Country  Life  Education  Series 


TYPES  AND  BREEDS 

OF 

FARM  ANIMALS 


%imS 


PLUMB 


L 


Boston  Society  oi  Natural  History. 


FROM 


Received  '  ?-* 


BOLD 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary 

Cummings  School  of  Veterinary  Medi 

Tufts  University 

200  Westboro  Road 

North  Grafton,  MA  01536    ' 


COUNTRY  LIFE  EDUCATION 
SERIES 


Edited  by  Charles  William    Burkett,  recently  Director 

of  Experiment  Station,  Kansas  State  Agricultural 

College  ;   Editor  of  American  Agriculturist 


TYPES  AND  BREEDS  OF  FARM  ANIMALS 
By  Charies  S.  Plumb,  Ohio  State  University 

PRINCIPLES  OF  BREEDING 

By  Eugene  Davenport,  University  of  Illinois 

FUNGOUS  DISEASES  OF  PLANTS 

By  Benjamin  Minge  Duggar,  Cornell  University 

SOIL  FERTILITY  AND  PERMANENT 
AGRICULTURE 

By  Cyril  George  Hopkins,  University  of  Illinois 

PRINCIPLES  AND  PRACTICE  OF  POULTRY 
CULTURE 

By  John  Henry  Robinson,  Editor  of  Farm-Poultry 

GARDEN  FARMING 

By  Lee  Cleveland  Corbett,  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture 

THE  APPLE 

By  Albert  E.  Wilkinson,  Cornell  University 

Other  volumes  in  preparatio?i 


Langton  Performer  242  (4844).     A  famous  Hackney  sire.    Owned  by  F.  C. 
Stevens  of  New  York.     From  a  photograph  of  a  painting 


TYPES  AND  BREEDS  OF 
FARM  ANIMALS 


BY 


CHARLES  S.  PLUMB 

Professor  of  Animal  Husbandry  in  the  College  of  Agriculture 
of  the  Ohio  State  University 


GINN  AND  COMPANY 

BOSTON     •    NEW   YORK     •    CHICAGO     •    LONDON 
ATLANTA     •    DALLAS     •    COLUMBUS     •    SAN    FRANCISCO 


Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall 


Copyright,  1906 
By  CHARLES  S.  PLUMB 


ALL    RIGHTS    RESERVED 
616.8 


CIjc  atfacnatum  ffrcsg 
I  1INN  AND  COMPANY  •  PR(  >• 
PRIETORS  •  BOSTON  •  U.S.A. 


FOREWORD 

The  need  for  such  a  volume  as  this  will  no  doubt  be  best 
expressed  by  a  demand  for  it  on  the  part  of  live-stock  students. 
The  author,  however,  desires  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that 
not  since  1888  has  a  volume  devoted  to  the  breeds  of  horses, 
cattle,  sheep,  and  swine  been  published  in  America.  The  most 
recent  work  devoted  to  the  breeds  entirely  omitted  a  considera- 
tion of  the  horse.  Further  than  this  but  very  few  books  have 
thus  far  been  published  in  the  English  language  that  have  been 
strictly  breed  studies. 

This  book  differs  somewhat  from  others  that  have  preceded  it. 
A  number  of  breeds  have  received  recognition  for  the  first  time, 
these  being  the  ass,  the  mule,  the  angora  and  milch  goats,  —  all 
animals  of  importance  in  certain  localities.  The  more  important 
or  better  known  breeds  have  received  more  detailed  considera- 
tion than  those  which  may  be  regarded  as  the  lesser  known,  and 
have  been  so  ranked  in  the  make-up  of  the  book.  In  numerous 
instances  much  new  historical  information  has  been  gathered. 
During  the  past  twenty  years  a  great  amount  of  evidence  bear- 
ing on  breed  merit  has  been  secured  at  the  agricultural  experi- 
ment stations,  at  expositions,  on  race  courses,  and  at  fair  grounds. 
In  the  breed  reviews  in  this  work  much  of  this  recent  evidence 
is  given  a  place.  Brief  consideration  is  also  given  to  some  of 
the  more  important  foundation  families  or  tribes,  and  to  individual 
animals  that  have  made  a  deep  impression  upon  the  breed.  The 
author  has  taken  the  liberty  of  commenting  on  the  weak  as  well 
as  on  the  strong  points  of  the  breeds,  but  this  has  been  done  in  a 
nonpartisan  spirit,  in  harmony  with  the  views  of  capable  critics. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  volume  a  wide  range  of  breed  liter- 
ature has  been  consulted.  Following  the  breed  discussion  of 
each  group  is  given  a  list  of  reference  works  to  which  the 
author  is  indebted  for  helpful  information.    Some  of  these  are 


viii  FOREWORD 

prefixed  by  an  asterisk  (*),  as  especially  worthy  the  attention  of 
the  student.  Numerous  pamphlets,  the  stud,  herd,  and  flock 
books  of  many  breeding  associations,  and  the  documents  of  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  and  of  various  experi- 
ment stations  have  contributed  materially  to  this  work.  Special 
recognition  is  here  given  of  the  great  amount  of  important  in- 
formation regarding  the  breeds,  published  in  the  volumes  of  such 
valuable  journals  as  the  Breeders  Gazette,  the  old  National  Live 
Stock  Journal,  the  Live  Stock  Journal  (England),  the  Journal  of 
the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England,  the  Journal  of  the 
Highland  and  the  Agricultural  Society  of  Scotland,  as  well  as 
numerous  other  excellent  live-stock  and  agricultural  periodicals 
published  in  America  and  elsewhere.  All  these  have  contrib- 
uted materially  to  such  value  as  this  book  may  possess. 

Much  of  the  material  in  this  volume  has  been  submitted  in 
manuscript  or  proof  to  the  frank  criticism  of  many  eminent 
breeders,  that  justice  might  be  rendered  each  breed.  While 
many  of  the  illustrations  are  from  photographs  taken  by  the 
author  at  home  and  abroad,  not  a  few  are  contributed  by  generous 
breeders  and  friends,  for  which  credit  is  given  elsewhere.  The 
author  is  especially  grateful  to  his  associate,  Dr.  Carl  W.  Gay, 
for  helpful  suggestions  and  assistance. 

These  brief  studies  of  the  types  and  breeds  of  farm  animals 
are  naturally  far  from  complete.  They  are  intended  for  the  stu- 
dent or  the  stockman  who  sees  the  long  road  of  education  before 
him.  The  subject-matter  is  arranged  with  some  regard  to  system- 
atic grouping,  with  the  hope  that  it  may  in  a  measure  meet  the 
requirements  of  the  class  room,  the  teacher,  and  the  practical 

stockman  on  the  farm. 

CHARLES  S.  PLUMB 

Ohio  State  University 
Columbus,  Ohio 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  Page 

I.  The  Prehistoric  Horse i 

II.  The  Arab  Horse 7 

III.  The  Thoroughbred 14 

IV.  The  American  Saddle  Horse 26 

V.  The  Roadster  Type 33 

VI.  The  American  Trotter 36 

VII.  The  Pacer 49 

VIII.  The  Orloff  Trotter 54 

IX.  The  Coach  or  Carriage  Horse  Type       .         .         .  .     58 

X.  The  Hackney 63 

XI.  The  French  Coach 72 

XII.  The  German  Coach 81 

XIII.  The  Cleveland  Bay 86 

XIV.  The   Draft  Type 92 

XV.  The  Percheron  .         .- 98 

XVI.  The  French  Draft 11 1 

XVII.  The  Clydesdale 114 

XVIII.  The  Shire     .         .         .         .         .         .  ■       .         .         .124 

XIX.  The  Belgian 133 

XX.  The  Suffolk 140 

XXI.  Ponies 146 

XXII.  Shetland  Pony 150 

XXIII.  The  Ass .         .         .155 

XXIV.  The  Mule 161 

XXV.  Beef  Type  of  Cattle 169 

XXVI.  The  Shorthorn 175 

XXVII.  The  Polled  Durham 197 

XXVIII.  The  Hereford 201 

XXIX.  The  Aberdeen  Angus 213 

XXX.  The  Galloway 225 

XXXI.  The  Sussex 234 

XXXII.  The  West  Highland 238 

XXXIII.  Dairy  Type  of  Cattle 243 

XXXIV.  The  Jersey 249 

XXXV.  The  Holstein-Friesian 264 

XXXVI.  The  Guernsey 276 

XXXVII.  The  Ayrshire 287 

ix 


X  CONTENTS 

Chapter  Page 

XXXVIII.  The  Dutch  Belted 296 

XXXIX.  The  French  Canadian       .......  300 

XL.  The  Kerry    .........       303 

XLI.  Dual-Purpose  Type  of  Cattle 307 

XLII.  The  Red  Polled 309 

XLIII.  The  Devon       .........  319 

XLIV.  The  Brown  Swiss         .......       326 

XLV.  The  Merino  or  Fine-Wool  Type  of  Sheep      .         .         .  333 

XLVI.  The  American  Merino           ......       339 

XLVII.  The  Delaine  Merino 357 

XLVI  1 1.  The  Rambouillet 366 

XLIX.  The  Mutton  Type  of  Sheep 375 

L.  The  Southdown    .          .         .         .         .         .          .          .       378 

LI.  The  Shropshire 387 

LI  I.  The  Oxford  Down 395 

LI  1 1.  The  Hampshire  Down      .......  402 

LIV.  The  Dorset  Horn 408 

LV.  The  Cheviot     .          .          .         .          .         .          .         .         .415 

LVI.  The  Suffolk  Down 421 

LVII.  The  Tunis         .          .          .         .         .         .          .          .          -425 

LVI  1 1.  The  Leicester        ........       429 

LIX.  The  Cotswold 437 

LX.  The  Lincoln           ........       443 

LXI.  The  Kent  or  Romney  Marsh  ......  450 

LXII.  The  Black  Faced  Highland 452 

LXI  1 1.  The  Angora  Goat    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         -455 

LXIV.  The  Milch  Goat 460 

LXV.  The  American  Type  of  Pig 467 

LXVI.  The  Berkshire 472 

LXVII.  The  Poland-China              484 

LXVI  1 1.  The  Chester  White 497 

LXIX.  The  Duroc-Jersey 505 

LXX.  The  Cheshire 514 

LXXI.  The  Victoria 518 

LXXII.  The  Essex 521 

LXXI  1 1.  The  Small  Yorkshire 525 

LXXIV.  The  Suffolk 530 

LXXV.  The  Bacon  Type  of  Pig 532 

LXXVI.  The  Large  Yorkshire  or  Large  White          .         .                536 

LXXVII.  The  Tamworth 545 

LXXVI  1 1.  The  Thin  Rind  or  Hampshire 551 

INDEX  .                  555 


TYPES  AND  BREEDS  OF 
FARM  ANIMALS 

PART  I— THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 
CHAPTER  I 

THE  PREHISTORIC  HORSE 

The  existence  of  the  prehistoric  horse,  in  the  light  of  compara- 
tively recent  investigations,  has  become  thoroughly  well  known 
and  comprehended  by  scientific  men.  The  discoveries  of  the 
Whitney  expedition,  under  the  direction  of  the  American  Mu- 
seum of  Natural  History  of  New  York,  have  provided  a  wealth 
of  most  valuable  material  in  this  field.1 

The  first  discovery  of  the  prehistoric  horse  in  America  was 
made  by  Mitchell  in  1826  near  the  Navesink  Highlands  in  New 
Jersey,  and  caused  great  discussion.  About  1850  Dr.  Leidy 
made  similar  discoveries  in  Nebraska.  Following  these  came 
further  finds,  until  late  in  the  nineteenth  century  the  wide  dis- 
tribution of  this  early  horse  in  North  and  South  America  was 
well  understood.  Geographically  speaking,  these  remains  have 
been  found  all  over  the  Southern  States,  in  the  Northeastern 
and  Middle  States,  in  California  and  Oregon,  and  in  greatest 
abundance  in  the  so-called  Bad  Lands  of  Nebraska,  Wyoming, 
and  South  Dakota. 

1  The  author's  discussion  of  this  subject  is  based  on  the  published  researches 
of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  and  especially  the  writings  of 
Professor  H.  F.  Osborn  of  Columbia  University  and  Dr.  W.  D.  Matthew  of  the 
American  Museum.  The  Century  Magazine,  November,  1904,  has  a  valuable  con- 
tribution on  this  subject  by  Professor  Osborn. 


2  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

The  world-wide  distribution  of  the  horse  in  prehistoric  times 

is  now  well  understood.  Besides  the  references  to  discoveries  in 
North  America,  fossil  remains  have  been  found  in  Patagonia, 
South  America,  and  in  earth  and  sand  deposits  in  various  parts 
of  Europe  which  existed  previous  to  the  Glacial  period.  In  1901 
most  interesting  discoveries  were  made  of  drawings  of  horses  in 
the  cave  of  La  Mouthe,  France,  which  it  is  believed  date  back 
to  the  Stone  Age.    These  drawings  were  partly  cut  in  rock  and 


Fig.  1.  Skeleton  of  prehistoric  horse  from  Lower  Pleistocene  of  Texas,  in 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Reproduced  by  courtesy  of  the 
American  Museum 


partly  made  in  ocher,  and  represented  animals  associated  with  the 
chase.  These  cave  drawings  are  very  clear,  and  show  a  horse 
with  no  forelock  and  a  head  with  Roman-nose  character,  also  one 
with  a  head  similar  to  that  of  the  Celtic  pony.  From  the  evi- 
dence left  in  the  caves  of  France  it  is  thought  a  larger  type 
of  horse  lived  toward  the  south,  while  farther  north  a  smaller 
form  existed.  It  is  also  fairly  well  established  that  the  ass  was 
known  in  Europe  at  this  period. 

The  evolution  of  the  horse  from  the  prehistoric  to  present  form 
covers   geological   ages   of   time    and   represents  a    passing   of 


THE  PREHISTORIC  HORSE  3 

perhaps  three  million  years.  Careful  investigation  and  dis- 
coveries show  that  animals  of  the  horse  class  existed  in  the 
Lower  Eocene  period  and  gradually  passed  upward  through 
twelve  stages  of  development  in  the  course  of  geological  time, 
becoming  more  and  more  developed  toward  the  present-day 
type  as  the  geological  periods  became  more  and  more  recent. 
These  various  forms  properly  grouped  may  be  briefly  described 
as  follows  : 

1.  Hyracotherium.  Existed  in  Lower  Eocene  period.  Only 
the  skull  has  been  found.  The  teeth  display  six  rounded  knobs 
or  cusps  on  upper  molars  and  four  on  lower.  Found  only  in 
London  Clay,   England. 

2.  Eohippus.  From  Lower  Eocene  period.  Teeth  vary  some 
from  above.  Fore  foot  has  four  complete  toes  and  splint  of  a 
fifth.  Hind  foot  has  three  toes  and  splint.  Found  in  Wyoming 
and  New  Mexico.  Were  about  size  of  fox  terrier,  and  known 
as  "dawn  horses." 

3  and  4.  ProtoroJiippus  and  Orohippus.  From  Middle  Eocene 
period.  In  these  animals  the  splints  have  disappeared,  leaving 
the  complete  toes,  as  in  Eohippus.  The  crests  on  the  molars 
are  more  apparent,  and  the  last  premolar  has  become  almost  like 
the  molars.  This  type  was  about  the  size  of  a  small  dog,  perhaps 
fourteen  inches  high.  The  Protorohippus  was  discovered  in  1880 
in  Wyoming. 

5.  Epihippus.  From  Upper  Eocene  period.  Only  incomplete 
specimens  have  been  found.  The  teeth  have  gone  through 
changes  with  more  crescents  and  crests,  with  another  premolar 
tooth  becoming  like  the  molars.  There  are  four  toes  in  front 
and  three  behind,  but  the  central  toe  in  each  is  larger  and 
stronger  and  more  important  than  the  side  toes. 

6  and  7.  MesoJiippus.  From  Oligocene  period.  There  are 
three  toes  on  each  foot  and  a  splint  representing  the  fifth  toe  of 
the  fore  foot.  The  middle  toe  is  now  much  larger  than  it  was  in 
the  preceding,  the  side  toes  bearing  but  little  weight  of  the  body. 
Three  of  the  premolars  have  also  become  like  full  molars.  In 
the  Middle  Oligocene  is  found  one  species  about  the  size  of  a 
coyote,  or  eighteen  inches  high,  while  in  the  Upper  Oligocene  is 
another  species  as  large  as  a  sheep. 


4  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

8.  Anchitheriiim.  From  Lower  Miocene  period.  Is  much  like 
Mesohippus,  but  is  larger  and  has  the  crests  of  the  teeth  some- 
what higher  and  more  complete.  This  form  may  not  be  in  direct 
line  of  descent,  but  may  be  a  side  branch.  Found  in  both  Europe 
and  America. 

9.  Parahippits  and  Hypohippus.  From  Middle  Miocene  period. 
The  tooth  crests  in  Parahippus  are  much  higher,  the  upper  molars 
are  changing  in  form,  and  a  second  pair  of  crescents  is  formed. 
Hypohippus  is  off  the  direct  line  of  descent.  A  complete  skeleton 
of  this  form,  now  in  the  American  Museum,  was  discovered  in  1901 
in  Colorado.  This  species  attained  the  size  of  a  Shetland  pony. 
The  fore  foot  has  small  rudiments  of  the  first  and  fifth  toes,  but 
there  is  no  splint  of  the  fifth,  as  in  Mesohippus.  The  second  and 
fourth  toes  lightly  touch  the  ground.  It  has  been  called  the  "forest 
horse,"  and  is  supposed  to  have  lived  on  lowlands  and  in  forests. 

10.  Protohippus.    From  Middle  and  Upper  Miocene  period. 

1 1.  Pliohippiis.    From  Middle  and  Upper  Miocene  period. 

In  this  stage  the  crowns  of  the  upper  molars  have  become 
much  longer,  the  two  pairs  of  crescents  on  the  upper  molars  are 
complete,  with  two  half -separated  cusps  within  the  inner  pair. 
The  valleys  between  the  crests  have  become  filled  with  cement, 
so  that  with  the  wear  of  the  teeth  the  edges  of  hard  enamel  are 
backed  inside  by  dentine  and  outside  by  cement.  Thus  the  tooth 
surface  has  a  series  of  enamel  ridges  always  projecting  somewhat 
above  the  grinding  surface,  because  the  softer  material  on  each 
side  wears  down  into  hollows,  yet  never  breaks  off.  This  makes 
an  efficient  medium  for  grinding  grass.  In  these  two  forms  of 
horse,  notably  Protohippus,  the  crowns  of  the  teeth  are  not  as  long 
as  in  the  modern  horse.  The  feet  in  these  two  have  but  one  toe 
touching  the  ground.  The  side  toes  are  complete,  but  are  more 
slender  than  in  the  earlier  stages  and  are  apparently  useless.  In 
some  species  of  Pliohippus  they  have  almost  disappeared.  Horses 
at  this  period  were  about  forty  inches,  or  ten  hands,  high. 

Hipparion.  From  Pliocene  period.  This  is  similar  to  Proto- 
hippus, but  with  larger  and  more  complicated  tooth  patterns.  In 
this  period  some  horses  have  three  toes  and  others  one. 

12.  Equus.  From  Pleistocene  period  and  Recent.  This  is  the 
stage  of  the  modern  horse.    The  side  toes  are   gone  but  are 


THE  PREHISTORIC  HORSE 


represented  by  splints  on  fore  and  hind  foot.  On  the  fore  foot 
no  trace  remains  of  the  little  nodules  which  in  Protohippus  rep- 
resented the  first  and  fifth  toes.  The  crowns  of  the  teeth  are 
much  longer  and  the  teeth  have  changed  otherwise.  The  skull 
has  lengthened  and  the  horse  is  much  larger. 

Tracing  the  development  of  this  prehistoric  horse,  we  find 
that  the  animal  gradually  increases  in  height,  the  number  of  toes 
reduces  to  one  on  each  foot,  while  the  teeth  increase  in  length 


Head 


Fore  Foot 


HindFoot 


Teeth 


OneToe 

Splints  of 

2nd  and  4th 

digits 


OneToe 

Splints  of 

2nd  and  4th 

digits 


Protohippus 


Mesohippus 


Protorohippus 


ThreeToes 
Side  toes 
f\  not  touching 
the  ground 


ThreeToes 
Side  toes 
not  touching 
' : k     the  ground 


Long- 
Crowned, 
Cement- 
covered 


Three  Toes 

Side  toes 

touching  the 

ground; 

Splint  of  5th digit 


ThreeToes 

Side  toes 

touching  the 

ground 


Four  Toes 


Short - 
Crowned, 
without 
Cement 


Hyracothermm 

(Eohippus) 


FourToes 
Splint  of 
1st  digit 


ThreeToes 
Splint  of 
5th  digit 


Fig.  2.  Comparative  drawings  of  skulls,  feet,  and  teeth  of  prehistoric  horse, 
showing  evolutionary  development.  Reproduced  by  permission  from 
Guide  Leaflet  No.  q,  American  Museum  of  Natural  History 

and  crown  development.  The  tooth  of  the  modern  horse  may  be 
an  efficient  grinder  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  while  that  of 
the  prehistoric  one,  from  shortness  of  crown  and  lack  of  enamel 
and  dentine,  perhaps  would  not  serve  over  ten  or  twelve  years. 

The  color  of  the  prehistoric  horse  is  not  known,  but  it  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  more  or  less  striped,  like  the  zebra,  though 
not  brilliantly  colored.  The  groundwork  of  this  color  was  pre- 
sumably dun  or  khaki. 


6  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

The  first  association  of  man  with  the  prehistoric  horse  so  far  as 

discovered  existed  in  the  Paleolithic  or  Stone  Implement  Age. 
It  is  assumed  that  man  first  hunted  horses  for  food,  then  drove 
them,  and  finally  used  them  for  riding  and  then  as  beasts  of 
burden.  The  bones  of  human  beings  have  been  found  in  connec- 
tion with  prehistoric  horse  remains  in  South  America,  but  not  in 
North  America.  In  Europe  man  and  the  prehistoric  horse  were 
without  doubt  associated. 

The  connecting  link  between  the  prehistoric  horse  and  the  horse 
of  modern  times  is  assumed  to  be  the  present  form  of  the  zebra, 


/2£ffkFMBBE3& 

S      ^^mMiiKmKm^     -x 

-  i         '    i IiiBal.tllg 

,, 

WtXm  H  m  9  - 

>v- 

IBM 

SL  ^      '^U      \- 

I*-  -££¥ 

~j&£Z    *  ' 

Fig.  3.  Restoration  of  the  four-toed  horse.  Photograph  from  original  water 
color  by  C.  R.  Knight,  based  on  mounted  skeleton  sixteen  inches  high, 
in  American  Museum  of  Natural  History 

the  wild  ass  of  Asia  and  Africa,  and  Przewalskii's  horse.  The 
latter  was  discovered  by  Poliakoff  in  1881  on  the  desert  of 
Zungaria  in  western  Mongolia  in  Asia.  It  has  been  assumed 
that  this  type  of  wild  pony,  standing  forty  inches  high,  is  quite 
similar  to  the  horse  as  known  by  prehistoric  man  thirty  thousand 
years  ago.  The  European  cave  drawings  show  a  strong  resem- 
blance to  the  Przewalskii  horse,  and  it  is  probable  that  from  such 
an  ancestry  has  come  the  Norwegian,  Irish,  and  other  ponies  of 
northern  Europe,  and  the  wild  horse  of  Mongolia  and  China. 


CHAPTER  II 


THE  ARAB  HORSE 


The  influence  of  the  Arab  horse  upon  the  improvement  of  the 
present-day  breeds  is  well  recognized  among  students.  As  early 
as  the  reign  of  King  James  I  of  England  (1603- 162 5)  Arab 
horses  were  introduced  into  that  country  and  crossed  with  light 
horse  stock.  Between  1700  and  1800  many  Oriental  horses 
found  their  way  to  England,  and  these  had  a  most  important 
influence  in  improving 
the  Thoroughbred.  The 
so-called  "  Royal  Mares  " 
imported  by  Charles  II 
(1660-1685)  became 
foundation  stock  in  the 
best  of  British  light  horse 
blood,  their  descendants 
reaching  great  distinc- 
tion. From  the  Darley 
Arabian  imported  in  1 706 
is  descended  the  best  of 
Hackney  blood  to-day. 
According  to  Joseph  Os- 
borne, since  the  time  of 
James  I  one  hundred  and 
sixty-four  Oriental  sires 
of  known  record  have 
been  taken    to    England 


Fig.  4.  Shahwan,  an  Arab  stallion  bred  by  Ali 
Pacha  Sherif,  of  Egypt.  Used  in  stud  by 
W.  S.  Blunt,  Esq.,  England.  Imported  in  1895 
by  J.  A.  P.  Ramsdell,  Newburg,  N.Y.  Photo- 
graph from  Mr.  Ramsdell 


and  used  in  service.  This  list  includes  ninety  Arabs,  thirty-six 
Barbs,  thirty-two  Turks,  four  Persians,  and  two  horses  of  un- 
known ancestry.  Arab  horses  have  also  been  used  for  centuries 
in  improving  the  horses  of  continental  Europe,  even  up  to  the 
draft  type.    Much  of  the  quality  produced  in  the  early  Percheron 

7 


8  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

came  from  the  Arab,  while  the  French  have  set  a  high  value  on 
this  horse  in  producing  half-breds  and  improving  coach  horses. 

In  1522  the  Turks  invaded  Hungary  five  hundred  thousand 
strong,  which  number,  so  history  informs  us,  included  three 
hundred  thousand  horsemen.  With  the  defeat  of  the  Moham- 
medans they  were  driven  from  the  country,  but  they  left  large 
numbers  of  Arabian  horses  behind.  From  that  time  Arab  horse 
blood  has  been  in  use  in  the  stables  of  Hungary,  and  a  Bedouin 
of  the  desert,  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  breed,  is  attached  to 
the  Hungarian  army  as  master  of  horse,  his  duty  being  to  select 
the  best  Arabian  horses  for  the  royal  studs.  These  studs  were 
established  in  1785  and  have  since  been  maintained.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  royal  studs,  there  are  some  one  hundred  and  fifty 
private  studs  in  which  are  to  be  found  five  thousand  Arab 
mares  of  purest  blood.  Russia  and  Germany  have  also  used  the 
Arabian  in  the  stud.  It  is  said  that  no  less  than  two  hundred 
Arab  stallions  belonging  to  the  French  government  were  at  the 
free  service  of  owners  of  mares  in  Algiers  in  Africa  in  1895, 
this  being  a  French  colony. 

The  native  home  of  the  Arab  horse  is  Arabia,  a  vast  country 
some  fifteen  hundred  miles  long  and  from  five  hundred  to  one  thou- 
sand miles  wide,  lying  east  of  the  Red  Sea,  with  its  northern 
extremity  not  far  from  the  east  end  of  the  Mediterranean.  The 
Arab  horse,  however,  is  found  in  great  numbers  in  Turkey,  Persia, 
and  parts  of  northern  Africa,  notably  the  Sahara  region. 

The  origin  of  the  pure  Arabian  has  been  the  cause  of  much 
discussion  in  print.  Major  Upton  and  Lady  Anne  Blunt,  how- 
ever, have  given  the  most  definite  and  satisfactory  information 
on  this  subject.  These  persons  made  special  trips  to  Arabia, 
where  careful  studies  were  made  of  the  horse  of  the  people, 
concerning  which  we  learn  much  in  their  writings.1  Major  Upton 
lived  among  the  Bedouins  for  months  and  spoke  their  language. 

The  best  Arabian  horses  are  found  in  the  desert  region, 
among  the  migratory  Bedouin  tribes,  of  which  there  are  several 
groups.    The  most  powerful  of  these  are  the  Shammar  race  of 

1  Gleanings  from  the  Desert  of  Arabia,  by  Roger  D.  Upton,  London,  1881; 
The  Bedouin  Tribes  of  the  Euphrates,  by  Lady  Anne  Blunt,  2  vols.,  London, 
1879;  -4  Pilgrimage  to  Nejd,  by  Lady  Anne  Blunt,  2  vols.,  London,  1881. 


THE  ARAB  HORSE  g 

Mesopotamia  in  the  north  and  to  the  east  of  the  Euphrates, 
visited  by  the  Blunts,  and  the  Anezah  in  the  south,  studied  by 
Major  Upton.  The  latter  race  have  the  best  horses,  a  fact 
generally  recognized  by  Bedouins. 

The  Arabs  are  descendants  of  Ishmael,  who,  according  to  tra- 
dition, inherited  a  valuable  horse  of  the  Kuhl  race.  The  Anezah 
tribe  descended  in  a  direct  line  from  Ishmael,  through  Sheik 
Salaman,  who  lived  about  1635  b.c.  (four  generations  removed 
from  Ishmael),  and  who  owned  five  famous  mares.  From  this 
ancestry  has  come  the  purest  and  best  Arab  horse  blood.  This 
race  was  in  existence  many  centuries  before  the  time  of 
Mohammed. 

The  Arabian  words  "  keheilan  "  and  "  keheilet  "  have  a  special 
application  to  the  horse.  These  words  are  derived  from  the  word 
"  kuhl,"  which  means  antimony,  material  with  which  Arab  women 
blacken  their  eyebrows  and  eyelashes.  Upton  claims  to  have 
discovered  that  the  entire  race  of  pure-bred  horses  among  the 
Anezah  had  black  skins  irrespective  of  color  of  hair.  This 
accounts  for  the  use  of  the  words  "  keheilan"  and  " keheilet,"  the 
former  meaning  a  male  and  the  latter  a  female  of  pure  blood 
whose  lineage  can  be  traced  without  a  break  to  the  five  mares 
of  Salaman.  The  Anezah  Bedouin  declines  to  recognize  any 
animal  as  keheilan  or  keheilet,  the  pedigree  of  which  does  not 
go  back  to  the  five  mares  in  question,  the  five  being  designated 
as  Al  Khamseh. 

Five  great  families  of  Arabian  horses  descended  from  founda- 
tion stock  tracing  to  the  five  mares  Al  Khamseh  are  as  follows : 

1.  The  descendants  of  Keheilet  Ajuz. 

2.  The  Maneghi,  with  three  sub-families. 

3.  The  Hadban,  with  five  sub-families. 

4.  The  Jelf 'on,  with  two  sub-families. 

5.  The  Homdani,  with  two  sub-families. 

From  the  first-named  family  comes  the  most  distinguished 
Arab  blood.  The  word  "ajuz"  means  old  woman.  This  family 
descends  from  a  mare  that  dropped  a  filly  colt  when  on  a  long 
and  hard  journey,  her  owner  being  hard  pressed  by  an  enemy. 
The  colt  was  left  where  foaled,  and  the  owner  of  the  mare  after 
much  difficulty  reached  his  own  people.    To  the  surprise  of  the 


IO  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

camp  the  young  filly  came  in  also  a  few  hours  after,  having  fol- 
lowed her  dam.  The  story  goes  that  she  was  given  into  the  care 
of  one  of  the  old  women  of  the  tribe,  whence  came  her  name, 
Keheilet  Ajuz  ("the  mare  of  the  old  woman"),  that  she  lived  to 
become  the  most  famous  mare  ever  seen  on  the  desert,  and  from 
her  are  descended  the  choicest  of  pure  Arabian  horses.  It  is 
claimed  that  nineteen  families  descend  from  her,  five  through 
mares  and  fourteen  through  stallions.  Some  even  believe  that 
eight  other  families  also  should  be  credited  as  her  descendants. 

The  families  of  Arabian  horses  descended  from  Keheilet  Ajuz 
that  are  recognized  as  of  superlative  merit,  are  the  following : 

(i)  Seglawi,  comprising  the  three  sub-families,  the  Seglawi 
Jedraan,  Seglawi  Obeiri,  and  Seglawi  Al-Abd.  This  is  one  of 
the  choicest  families. 

(2)  Abeyan.  There  are  seven  sub-families.  This  family  received 
its  name  from  a  high  carriage  of  tail. 

(3)  Dalman.    There  are  four  sub-families. 

(4)  Abu  Arkab.    There  are  three  sub-families. 

The  following  families  are  also  regarded  by  some  as  descend- 
ants of  Keheilet  Ajuz  : 

(5)  Rishon ;  (6)  Radban;  (7)  Twaissau;  (8)  Milliah,  with 
sub-families  in  each  case. 

The  history  of  the  Arab  horse  in  America  is  not  very  exten- 
sive, though  dating  back  many  years.  No  doubt  many  horses 
called  Arabian  were  not  of  that  breed,  but  were  of  Oriental 
ancestry.  About  1765  an  Arab  stallion  named  Ranger  was 
imported  to  New  London,  Connecticut.  A  half-bred,  gray  son 
of  Ranger  was  used  by  General  Washington  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  Ranger  was  later  taken  to  Virginia,  where  he 
became  known  as  the  Lindsay  Arabian.  The  first  volume  of 
Bruce's  American  Studbook  contains  a  list  of  forty-two  Arab 
stallions  imported  into  the  United  States  between  1760  and  i860, 
besides  twelve  Arab  mares,  four  Barb  stallions  and  two  Barb 
mares.  There  were  some  famous  animals  imported  years  ago. 
Honorable  A.  Keene  Richards  of  Kentucky  made  two  journeys 
to  Arabia  with  Troye,  the  animal  painter.  They  visited  among 
the  Anezah  and  brought  back  to  America  some  splendid  Arabian 
horses,  the  blood  of  which  occupies  a  place  of  prominence  in 


THE  ARAB  HORSE 


II 


the  Gold  Dust  family  of  trotters.  The  Arab  horses  Maanake 
Hedgrogi  and  Liklany  Gidran  were  sent  as  a  gift  to  Wm.  H. 
Seward,  Umbark  to  President  Martin  Van  Buren,  and  Linden 
Tree  and  Leopard  to  General  U.  S.  Grant.  In  1838  a  large  con- 
signment of  both  stallions  and  mares  was  brought  to  the  United 
States  by  Commodore  J.  D.  Elliott  of  the  United  States  Navy. 


Fig.  5.  Cunningham,  an  Arab  stallion  owned  by  Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  Bart., 
England.  A  winner  of  races  in  Egypt  and  England.  From  photograph 
from  Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  Bart. 

Important  studs  of  Arab  horses  in  England  and  America  during 
recent  years  are  worthy  of  mention.  In  England  Major  Upton 
until  his  death  maintained  a  pure  Arab  stud,  as  also  did  Henry 
Chaplin,  Minister  of  Agriculture.  Both  of  these  studs  were  sold. 
Sir  Wilfred  Blunt  and  his  wife,  Lady  Anne  Blunt,  brought  to 
England  from  Arabia  some  eighteen  pure  Arab  mares  and  two 
stallions.  Besides  these  Rev.  F.  F.  Vidal  and  Miss  Ethelred 
Dillon    also    have    studs    in    England.     In    the    United    States 


12  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Randolph  Huntington  of  Long  Island,  New  York,  Peter  Heyl  of 
Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  and  J.  A.  P.  Ramsdell  of  Newburg,  New 
York,  have  maintained  notable  Arab  studs  in  recent  years. 

A  few  notable  Arab  horses  of  pure  breeding  that  have  become 
famous  are  the  stallions  Kismet,  El  Emir,  Maidan,  Kouch,  Kars, 
Shah  wan,  Cunningham,  and  Himyarite.  The  mares  Haidee, 
Keziah,  Naomi,  and  Nazli  are  among  the  most  important 
modern  females  of  the  breed. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Arab  horse.  The  head  represents 
very  superior  character  and  intelligence,  the  forehead  being  broad 
and  prominent,  and  the  head  tapering  toward  the  nose  more 
than  with  other  breeds.  The  nostrils  are  prominent,  the  eyes 
fairly  so,  the  ears  delicate  and  pointing  inward,  and  the  general 
head  expression  lean  and  representing  high  spirit.  The  neck  is 
of  medium  length  and  sustains  the  head  most  gracefully.  Captain 
Hayes  states  that  the  shoulders  of  the  Arab  slope  well,  though 
from  the  saddle  point  of  view  they  are  often  too  thick,  while  the 
withers  incline  to  be  rather  low  and  broad.  The  body  is  fairly 
short,  and  is  usually  deeply  ribbed  ;  the  back  is  well  sustained, 
and  the  loins  are  broad  and  muscular.  The  croup  tends  to  be 
high,  sometimes  making  specimens  of  the  breed  appear  higher 
here  than  at  the  withers.  The  tail  sets  high  and  is  carried  with 
style.  The  quarters  are  long  and  deep,  but  the  gaskins  and 
hocks  hardly  equal  those  of  the  Thoroughbred.  The  legs  and 
feet  are  very  superior.  For  his  size  the  strength  of  the  Arabian 
horse  is  remarkable,  this  being  due  in  part  to  large  development 
of  muscle  of  loin  and  arm,  whereby  he  becomes  a  superior  bur- 
den carrier.  The  Arab  has  a  great  constitution  and  extraordi- 
nary staying  power.  He  is  not  noted  so  much  for  speed  as  for 
endurance,  as  he  is  not  nearly  the  equal  of  the  Thoroughbred 
or  American  trotter  for  rapid  speed.  Yet  the  Arab  will  perform 
long  journeys  across  country  with  comparative  ease,  such  as 
require  great  staying  power.  In  height  the  Arab  ranges  from 
14  to  14^  hands,  so  that  he  stands  at  the  boundary  line  between 
pony  and  horse.  Many  of  the  most  famous  Arabs  brought  to 
England  were  ponies.  Esa  bin  Curtis,  a  large  importer  of  Arabs 
to  Bombay,  is  credited  with  the  statement  that  the  best  Arabs 
did  not,  as  a  rule,  exceed  14  hands  \\  inches  to  14^  hands  high. 


THE  ARAB  HORSE  ^ 

In  color  there  is  some  variation,  for  there  are  bays,  whites,  grays, 
chestnuts,  and  blacks,  the  latter  being  least  common  of  all. 

The  value  of  the  Arab  in  cross  breeding  is  preeminent.  Wher- 
ever used  he  has  transmitted  constitution,  quality,  intelligence, 
and  style  in  a  marked  degree.  His  value  to  horse  stock  in  the  past 
has  been  incalculable.  Not  only  this,  but  European  governments, 
even  of  to-day,  recognize  the  value  of  an  Arabian  cross  to  instill 
the  qualities  above  referred  to  into  depleted  stock.  As  an 
example  of  this  crossing,  in  1899  it  is  stated  that  the  French 
government  mated  sixty  Thoroughbred  mares  with  pure  Arabian 
stallions  at  the  national  stud  at  Pompadour.  The  object  was 
to  obtain  Anglo-Arab  stallions  for  service  in  the  government 
studs.  These  cross-bred  stallions  are  usually  placed  in  low,  soft 
districts,  where  the  horses  are  coarse  and  of  inferior  bone.  The 
progeny  from  such  stallions  have  more  refinement  and  quality 
than  those  obtained  by  other  matings.  At  the  present  time  one 
important  use  for  Arab  sires  is  breeding  to  Welsh,  New  Forest, 
Exmoor,  or  similar  ponies  to  produce  cross-breds  for  polo  playing. 

The  registration  of  Arab  horses  is  provided  for  in  the  American 
Studbook,  and  in  the  General  Studbook  of  Great  Britain.  There 
is  no  special  organization  for  the  promotion  of  this  breed. 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  THOROUGHBRED 

The  history  of  the  Thoroughbred  is  so  closely  associated  with 
the  improvement  of  the  modern  horse  that  much  consideration 
should  be  given  it. 

The  horse  in  England  prior  to  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign  was 
mainly  of  the  draft  type,  coarse  and  strong.  We  know  little  of 
his  general  merits.  He  was  used  in  war  for  chariots  and  as  a 
saddle  horse.  The  early  Romans  brought  horses  to  England 
in  the  fifth  century,  and  so  did  the  succeeding  Normans  and 
others.  Early  in  the  thirteenth  century  King  John  imported  one 
hundred  stallions  from  Flanders.  Edward  III,  during  the  four- 
teenth century,  brought  to  England,  it  is  stated,  over  fifty  Spanish 
horses  at  a  cost  of  over  eight  hundred  dollars  each.  Henry  VIII 
maintained  a  royal  stud,  had  laws  enacted  regarding  horse  breed- 
ing, and  imported  from  Turkey,  Spain,  and  Naples.  Yet  during 
all  these  years  the  prevailing  horses  were  burden  bearers  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  of  greater  speed,  known  as  running  horses. 
The  use  of  heavy  armor  in  the  army  had  justified  breeding  a  horse 
of  this  type. 

Systematic  horse  racing  in  England  was  first  introduced  by 
James  I.  During  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  (15  5  8-1603) 
the  use  of  armor  grew  to  be  unpopular,  though  the  use  of  horses 
changed  but  little.  James  I,  succeeding  Elizabeth,  was  not  war- 
like in  temperament,  and  the  use  of  armor  passed  away  during 
his  reign.  Not  only  this,  but  James  established  the  race  course, 
gave  attention  to  horse  breeding,  and  imported  from  the  Orient. 
He  established  a  code  of  regulations  from  which  the  modern  race 
course  has  derived  its  foundation.  James  imported  an  Arabian 
stallion  from  the  Orient  through  an  English  merchant  named 
Markham,  for  which  he  paid  five  hundred  pounds.  This  horse 
was  much  ridiculed  and  had  no  special  importance  in  improving 

M 


THE  THOROUGHBRED 


*5 


racing  stock.  Charles  I  (i 625-1649),  the  son  of  James  I,  estab- 
lished racing  at  Newmarket  and  Hyde  Park,  while  his  son, 
Charles  II,  whom  British  authors  credit  with  first  creating 
the  Thoroughbred,  brought  many  horses  from  the  Orient  and 
was  a  great  promoter  of  the  race  course.  Two  Barb  mares  which 
Charles  II  imported  took  very  high  rank  among  the  brood  mares 
of  England  and  were  named  the  "  Royal  Mares." 

From  the  time  of  James  I  up  to  the  present  day  each  British 
ruler  has  patronized  the  race  course  and  has  promoted  horse 
breeding.  Since  the  time  of  this  monarch  about  one  hundred 
and  sixty -four  Eastern  sires  have  been  imported  into  England. 
From  this  desire  for  the  running  horse  and  the  race  has  been 
developed  the  Thoroughbred,  which  for  a  hundred  years  or  more 
has  been  bred  with  reasonable  purity. 

Three  foreign  horses  introduced  into  England  during  the  for- 
mation period  of  the  Thoroughbred  exercised  an  important 
influence  worthy  of  special  mention.    These  were  the  following : 

1 .  The  Godolphin  Barb,  also  known  as  the  Godolphin  Arabian, 
was  probably  foaled  in  Barbary  about  1724.  Later  he  found  his 
way  to  France,  and  for  a  time  was  used  to  haul  a  water  cart.  About 
1728  he  was  taken  to  England  and  presented  to  Lord  Godolphin. 
He  was  used  in  the  stud  with  great  success.  His  blood  contrib- 
uted in  a  most  important  degree  to  founding  the  Thoroughbred. 

2.  The  Byerly  Turk,  the  saddle  horse  of  Captain  Byerly,  used 
later  in  the  seventeenth  century  in  the  wars  of  William  in  Ire- 
land, was  probably  brought  to  England  in  1689.  He  was  very 
famous  as  a  sire  and  horses  descended  from  him  are  known  as 
Byerly  Turk  horses. 

3.  The  Darley  Arabian,  supposed  to  be  a  pure  Arabian,  was 
bought  at  Aleppo,  Syria,  by  a  Mr.  Darley.  He  was  brought 
to  England  in  1706,  late  in  Queen  Anne's  reign,  as  a  gift  to 
Mr.  John  B.  Darley,  of  Aldby  Park,  near  York.  He  was  bay  in 
color  with  blaze  on  face  and  white  on  three  feet,  and  stood 
about  15  hands  high.  To  this  horse  can  be  traced  the  choicest 
Thoroughbred  blood. 

These  three  Oriental  horses  preceded  the  development  of  the 
Thoroughbred,  yet  their  blood  had  a  potent  fundamental  influence 
in  establishing  the  breed  which  followed. 


l6  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Three  English-bred  horses  of  great  prepotency,  important  in 
founding  the  Thoroughbred,  stand  out  as  really  great  ancestors 
of  the  modern  speed  horse.    They  are  the  following  : 

1.  Herod  (King  Herod).  This  horse  was  born  in  1758  and 
was  bred  by  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  a  brother  of  George  II. 
He  was  used  on  the  race  course  for  a  time  and  was  then  retired 
to  the  stud.  He  is  said  to  have  sired  497  prize  winners  on  various 
race  courses,  and  it  is  estimated  that  they  won  for  their  owners 
,£201,505,  or  over  one  million  dollars.  Herod  was  a  direct 
descendant  of  the  Byerly  Turk. 

2.  Matchem.  One  of  the  important  sons  of  the  Godolphin 
Barb  was  named  Cade.  He  proved  to  be  an  indifferent  race 
horse,  but  a  great  breeder,  due  to  his  superior  blood  and  con- 
formation. Matchem,  his  best -known  son,  became  a  great  racer 
as  well  as  a  prominent  sire.  It  is  stated  that  he  made  a  record 
on  the  Beacon  course  at  the  rate  of  a  mile  in  1.44.  He  also 
became  well  known  for  the  excellence  of  his  progeny  in  speed 
quality,  for  he  sired  354  sons  and  daughters  that  were  winners 
of  races.    Matchem  was  born  in  1748  and  died  in  1781. 

3.  Eclipse.  The  Darley  Arabian  was  the  sire  of  two  great 
horses  in  their  day,  notably  Flying  Childers,  also  known  as  The 
Devonshire,  and  Bartlett's  Childers.  The  former  was  a  chestnut 
horse  with  four  white  feet,  and  was  the  fastest  horse  on  the 
English  turf  up  to  his  time.  Bartlett's  Childers  was  never  trained 
to  race,  but  was  used  in  the  stud  instead.  A  grandson  of  his, 
named  Marske,  bred  to  the  mare  Spiletta,  was  the  sire  of  Eclipse, 
foaled  in  1764  during  a  great  eclipse  from  which  he  takes  his 
name.  From  two  points  of  view  this  horse  may  be  regarded  as 
perhaps  the  greatest  in  history,  one  as  a  racer  the  other  as  a 
progenitor  of  racers.  He  was  bred  by  the  Duke  of  Cumber- 
land, and  at  the  sale  of  his  stud  brought  75  guineas.  He 
was  five  years  old  before  going  on  the  turf,  running  first  at 
Epsom.  In  his  second  race,  at  York,  he  distanced  his  com- 
petitors. In  1769  Dennis  O'Kelly  bought  him  for  1650  guineas 
($8250).  As  a  racer  he  distanced  some  of  the  best  horses  of 
his  time.  Finally,  as  no  one  would  race  against  him,  he  closed 
his  racing  career  of  seventeen  months  by  walking  over  the 
Newmarket  race  course  for  the  King's  Plate  in  October,  1770. 


THE  THOROUGHBRED  1 7 

In  1779  O'Kelly  was  asked  by  one  of  the  Bedford  family  for  his 
price  on  Eclipse,  and  he  replied  that  "  all  Bedford  Level  would 
not  purchase  him."  From  another  person  he  asked  $125,000 
and  an  annuity  of  $2500  for  life. 

Eclipse  won  eleven  King's  Plates  and  O'Kelly  cleared  ,£25,000 
on  him.  In  historical  descriptions  of  this  horse  he  is  said  to 
have  been  about  1 5^  hands  high;  his  shoulders  were  very  low 
and  oblique  and  thick  above,  while  he  stood  high  behind.  He 
had  a  great  loin,  very  long  quarters,  and  powerful  and  long 
thighs  and  fore  arms,  and  his  stride  was  very  wide.  He  was  so 
thick-winded  that  he  could  be  heard  some  distance.  He  was  of 
fine  disposition,  and  in  a  race  he  took  his  own  gait,  rushing  along 
with  his  head  down,  indifferent  to  his  jockeys,  who  found  it 
impossible  to  hold  him  in.  Eclipse  sired  334  winners  of  races. 
He  died  in  1789,  aged  twenty-five  years.  This  horse  was  a 
direct  descendant  of  the  Darley  Arabian,  and  the  very  best  of 
British  and  American  racing-horse  blood  traces  its  course  from 
these  two  great  sires. 

Of  these  three  English-bred  stallions  Eclipse  as  a  breeder 
was  most  important,  at  least  in  the  male  line  of  descent,  while 
Matchem  was  least  so.  The  influence  of  both  the  Oriental  and 
English  sires  on  the  creation  of  the  Thoroughbred  as  a  breed 
has  been  very  profound,  but  without  doubt  numerous  females 
have  had  an  important  part.  However,  much  less  is  known  of 
the  personality  and  breeding  of  the  mares  than  of  the  sires. 
C.  Bruce  Lowe,  in  an  elaborate  study  of  speed  lines  of  many 
great  Thoroughbreds,  compiles  a  list  of  forty-four  important 
foundation  mares.  At  the  head  of  that  list  he  places  first, 
TregonwelVs  Natural  Barb  Mare  ;  second,  Burton  s  Barb  Mare  ; 
third,  Dam  of  tzvo  True  Blues. 

The  Thoroughbred  derives  his  origin  from  the  union  of  Arabian, 
Barb,  and  Turkish  blood  with  the  lighter  type  of  English  horse. 
From  this  amalgamation  came  great  stamina,  remarkable  speed, 
unusual  endurance,  and  great  symmetry  of  form. 

The  names  of  many  famous  Thoroughbreds  appear  during  the 
history  of  the  breed.  The  following  are  worthy  representatives, 
all  of  them  famous  racers  and  most  of  them  great  breeders.  The 
dates  after  their  names  indicate  the  years  of  foaling. 


1 8  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Prominent  British  Thoroughbreds  and  their  sires  and  dams  : 
Squirt,  1732,  by  Bartlett's  Childers,  out  of  the  Snake  mare; 
Pot-8-os,  1773,  by  Eclipse,  out  of  Sportsmistress  ;  Woodpecker, 
l77 3y  by  Herod,  out  of  Misfortune;  HigJiflyer,  1774,  by  Herod, 
out  of  Rachael  ;  Sir  Peter  Teazle  (also  known  as  Sir  Peter),  1784, 
by  Highflyer,  out  of  Papillon  ;  Waxy,  1790,  by  Pot-8-os,  out  of 
Maria  by  Herod  ;  Whalebone,  1807,  by  Waxy,  out  of  Penelope  ; 
Tramp,  18 10,  by  Dick  Andrews,  dam  by  Gohanna ;  Whisker, 
1 8 12,  by  Waxy,  out  of  Penelope  ;  Sir  Hercules,  1826,  by  Whale- 
bone, out  of  Peri;  ToucJistone,  183 1,  by  Camel,  out  of  Banter; 
Irish  Bird  Catclicr,  1833,  by  Sir  Hercules,  out  of  Guiccioli ; 
Gladiator,  1833,  by  Partisan,  out  of  Pauline;  Faugh-a-Ballagh, 
1 841,  by  Sir  Hercules,  out  of  Guiccioli;  Orlando,  1 841,  by  Touch- 
stone, out  of  Vulture  ;  The  Baron,  1842,  by  Irish  Bird  Catcher, 
out  of  Echidna;  Stockzvell,  1849,  by  The  Baron,  out  of  Poca- 
hontas ;  Kingston,  1849,  by  Venison,  out  of  Queen  Anne  ;  King 
To?n,  185  1,  by  Harkaway,  out  of  Pocahontas  ;  Blair  Athol,  1861, 
by  Stockwell,  out  of  Blink  Bonny  ;  Hermit,  1864,  by  New- 
minster,  out  of  Seclusion  ;  Robert  The  Devil,  1877,  by  Bertram, 
out  of  Cast  Off;  Bend  Or,  1878,  by  Doncaster,  out  of  Rouge 
Rose;  St.  Simon,  1881,  by  Galopin,  out  of  St.  Angela  ;  Isinglass, 
1890,  by  Isonomy,  out  of  Deadlock;  Persimmon,  1893,  by  St. 
Simon,  out  of  Perdita  II;  Flying  Fox,  1896,  by  Orme,  out  of 
Vampire;  Diamond  Jubilee,  1897,  by  St.  Simon;  Rock  Sand, 
1900,  by  Sainfoin,  out  of  Roquebrune. 

Prominent  British  Thoroughbreds  imported  to  America : 
Shark,  1 77 1,  by  Marske,  dam  by  Snap;  Diomed,  1777,  by 
Florizel,  out  of  Sister  to  Juno  ;  Buzzard,  1787,  by  Woodpecker, 
out  of  Daughter  of  Alexander;  Sarpedon,  1828,  by  Emilius,  out 
of  Icaria  ;  Glencoe,  183 1,  by  Sultan,  out  of  Trampoline  ;  Leaming- 
ton, 1853,  by  Faugh-a-Ballagh,  out  of  Daughter  of  b.m.  ;  Bo7inie 
Scotland,  1853,  by  Iago,  out  of  Queen  Mary;  Australian,  1858, 
by  West  Australian,  out  of  Emilia;  Phaeton,  1865,  by  King 
Tom,  out  of  Merry  Sunshine  ;  Prince  Charlie,  1869,  by  Blair 
Athol,  out  of  Eastern  Princess  ;  Rayon  a"  Or,  1876,  by  Flageolet, 
out  of  Auracaria;  St.  Blaise,  1880,  by  Hermit,  out  of  Fusee; 
Kingston,  1882,  by  Flageolet;  Ormonde,  1884,  by  Bend  Or, 
out  of  Lily  Agnes  ;   Sysonby,  1901,  by  Melton,  out  of  Optime. 


THE  THOROUGHBRED 


19 


Prominent  American  Thoroughbreds:  Sir  ArcJiy,  1805,  by 
Diomcd,  out  of  Castianira  ;  American  Eclipse ;  18 14,  by  Duroc, 
out  of  Miller's  Damsel;  Boston,  1833,  by  Timoleon,  out  of 
Sister  to  Tuckahoe ;  Lexington,  1850,  by  Boston,  out  of  Alice 
Carneal;  Norfolk,  i860,  by  Lexington,  out  of  Novice  ;  Emperor, 
i860,  by  Leamington  ;  Longfellozv,  1867,  by  Leamington,  out  of 
Nantura ;  Enquirer,  1867,  by  Leamington,  out  of  Lida  ;  Tom 
O'Chiltree,  1872,  by  Lexington,  out  of  Katona;  Parole,  1874,  by 
Leamington,  out  of  Maiden;  Himyar,  1875,  by  Alarm,  out  of 


Fig.  6.  Hanover,  a  Thoroughbred  stallion.  A  great  racer,  starting  in  fifty  races, 
winning  thirty-two,  and  securing  $120,912  in  prize  money.  The  leading  sire 
of  prize  winners  in  1895,  1896,  1897,  and  1898.  In  stud  at  McGrathiana, 
Lexington,  Kentucky.    From  photograph  by  author 

Hira;  Spendthrift,  1876,  by  Australian,  out  of  Aerolite;  Luke 
Blackburn,  1877,  by  Bonnie  Scotland,  out  of  Nevada;  Foxhall, 
1878,  by  King  Alfonso,  out  of  Jamaica;  Iroquois,  1878,  by 
Leamington,  out  of  Maggie  B.B. ;  The  Bard,  1883,  by  Longfellow, 
out  of  Brademante ;  Firensi,  1884,  by  Glenelg,  out  of  Florida; 
Hanover,  1884,  by  Hindoo,  out  of  Bourbon  Belle;  Emperor  of 
Norfolk,  1885,  by  Norfolk,  out  of  Marian  ;  Salvator,  1886,  by 
Prince  Charlie,  out  of  Salina  ;  Hamburg,  1891,  by  Hanover,  out 
of  Lady  Reel. 

Importations  of  Thoroughbreds  to  America  were  made  at  a 
comparatively  early  date,  and  some  of  the  most  famous .  horses 


20  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

of  the  breed  found  their  way  to  the  United  States  during  the 
eighteenth  century.  The  brief  and  incomplete  list  of  Thorough- 
breds imported,  which  precedes  this  statement,  represents  a  list 
of  sires  and  racers  of  the  most  distinguished  character.  The  first 
Thoroughbred  to  come  to  America  is  said  to  have  been  the  horse 
Bulle  Rock,  imported  to  Virginia  in  1730.  Diomed,  who  won  the 
first  Derby  ever  run,  was  imported  in  1797  at  twenty  years  of 
age.  Messenger,  imported  in  1788,  as  a  Thoroughbred  to  improve 
the  running  horse,  became  a  distinguished  progenitor  of  trotters. 
Fearnought,  1775  ;  Buzzard,  1787  ;  Shark,  1771  ;  Alderman, 
1787;  Pantaloon,  1778;  Highflyer,  1784;  Salt  ram,  1780;  and 
Matchem,  1773,  represent  eminent  early  importations.  The  men 
of  Virginia,  South  Carolina,  Maryland,  and  Kentucky,  from  very 
early  days,  showed  great  interest  in  Thoroughbreds  and  pro- 
moted the  race  track.  In  1760  the  first  track  in  America,  known 
as  the  Newmarket  course,  was  established  at  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  on  which  were  held  many  enthusiastic  races. 

The  conformation  of  the  Thoroughbred  is  distinctive.  The 
head  should  be  fine  and  lean  and  moderately  small,  showing 
breeding  ;  eyes  prominent  and  intelligent ;  ears  of  medium  size, 
not  too  wide  apart,  and  carried  in  a  lively  manner.  The  neck 
should  be  long,  the  upper  part  from  withers  to  poll  being  about 
twice  as  long  as  the  lower  part  from  point  of  shoulder  to  larynx, 
and  strongly  muscular.  The  shoulder  should  slope  obliquely  back, 
be  covered  with  muscle,  and  come  back  to  form  high,  fairly  close, 
long  withers ;  no  collar  heaviness  should  be  noticeable.  The  chest 
tends  to  narrow  rather  than  broad  conformation,  with  good  depth, 
yet  able  authorities  prefer  a  broad  rather  than  deep  and  narrow 
chest.  The  body  should  be  rather  circular  in  type,  with  a  depth 
at  the  withers  rather  less  than  half  the  height,  with  a  length 
equal  to  the  height  at  withers  and  croup  ;  the  back  and  loins 
should  be  comparatively  broad,  level,  and  muscular ;  the  ribs 
well  sprung  and  of  enough  depth  to  show  good  feeding  capacity. 
The  croup  tends  to  be  long,  rather  level,  curving  gracefully,  with 
the  tail  attached  medium  high  and  carried  gracefully.  The  kind 
quarter  is  one  of  the  features  of  the  Thoroughbred,  being  long, 
strongly  muscled,  exhibiting  great  driving  power  ;  the  gaskins 
or  lower  thighs  should  be  broad.    The  fore  leg  should  be  muscular 


THE  THOROUGHBRED  2  1 

and  strong  in  arm  and  long  and  wide  in  fore  arm,  with  com- 
paratively little  width  between  the  legs.  A  rather  broad,  strong 
knee,  supported  by  a  short  flat  cannon  bone  extending  well  back, 
is  desirable.  The  hind  leg  at  the  hocks  ought  to  be  deep,  clean, 
free  from  fleshiness,  and  be  supported  by  a  short,  flat,  clean 
cannon  bone.  The  pastern  joints  should  be  smooth,  placed  true, 
and  in  harmony  with  the  leg  as  a  whole.  The  pasterns  should 
not  be  straight  but  rather  long  and  slanting,  yet  strong,  clean, 
and  springy,  being  carried  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees.  The 
feet  should  be  of  medium  size,  wide  and  high  at  the  heel,  con- 
cave below,  and  be  carried  straight  and  true.  In  order  to  secure 
speed  it  is  essential  that  the  knees  and  hocks  move  smoothly 
and  freely  and  that  this  movement  be  true. 

The  height  of  the  Thoroughbred  ranges  from  14^  to  \6\  hands, 
but  15  to  1 5i  is  most  approved.  It  is  probable  that  this  breed 
has  increased  in  height  with  its  development.  Nearly  fifty  years 
ago  Rous  argued  that  a  gain  of  a  hand  had  occurred  during  the 
preceding  hundred  years.  Sir  Walter  Gilbey  states  that  "  from 
an  average  height  of  14  hands  in  1700  the  breed  has  been  graded 
up  to  an  average  of  15  hands  2\  inches  in  the  year  1900." 

The  color  of  the  Thoroughbred  is  variable.  Bays  and  browns 
are  most  common  and  most  popular,  though  chestnuts  are 
common,  while  blacks,  sorrels,  grays,  and  roans  occur. 

The  weight  of  the  Thoroughbred  is  quite  variable,  but  in  gen- 
eral ranges  from  900  to  1050  pounds. 

In  temperament  the  Thoroughbred  is  nervous  and  mettlesome, 
being  endowed  with  great  spirit  and  endurance  in  the  race. 

The  distribution  of  the  Thoroughbred  is  world-wide  in  regions 
where  light  horses  for  speed  purposes  prevail.  This  is  note- 
worthy in  Great  Britain,  France,  Germany,  Australasia,  Argen- 
tine Republic,  and  the  United  States. 

Prices  at  which  Thoroughbreds  have  sold  cover  a  wide  range 
of  high  figures,  this  breed,  in  fact,  leading  all  others  in  this 
respect.  The  highest  price  paid  up  to  1906  is  for  the  stallion 
Flying  Fox,  sold  for  37,500  guineas  ($187,500)  at  the  sale  of  the 
Duke  of  Westminster  in  1904.  Flying  Fox  was  taken  to  France 
for  stud  purposes.  Late  in  1905  King  Edward  VII  of  England 
sold  the  stallion  Diamond  Jubilee  for  $150,000  to  Senor  Ignacio 


22  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Correas  of  the  Argentine,  South  America.  Ormonde  sold  for 
$150,000,  and  Cyellene,  another  English  Thoroughbred,  recently 
sold  for  $150,000.  Among  other  high  prices  at  which  Thorough- 
breds have  changed  hands  are  the  following :  Rock  Sand,  $  1 2  5,000 ; 
Water  Cress,  $71,000;  Hamburg,  $60,000;  Nasturtium,  $50,000; 
Norfolk,  $40,000 ;  Kentucky,  $40,000 ;  Iroquois,  $34,000  ;  Rayon 
d'Or,  $33,000;  Bonnie  Scotland,  $30,000 ;  and  Luke  Blackburn, 
$20,000. 

The  speed  record  of  the  Thoroughbred  is  faster  than  that  of 
any  other  horse.  Races  with  this  breed  are  run  under  the  saddle, 
with  jockeys  up.    A  light,  skillful  jockey  is  needed  in  the  saddle. 


Fig.  7.  Lamplighter,  a  prominent  Thoroughbred  sire  and  racer  owned  by  Milton 
Young,  Lexington,  Kentucky.  One  of  the  leading  sires  of  1904  and  1905 
prize  winners.    From  photograph  by  author 

A  very  satisfactory  jockey  weight  is  no  to  115  pounds,  but 
many  great  races  have  been  won  with  weight  up  to  125  pounds. 
The  fastest  record  by  a  Thoroughbred  is  that  of  1.3  5  A-  by 
Salvator  on  a  straightaway  track  of  one  mile,  in  1890,  at  Mon- 
mouth Park,  New  Jersey.  On  the  Harlem  standard  track,  in 
1903,  Dick  Wells  ran  a  mile  in  1.375.  Only  a  few  days  before 
Alan-a-Dale  had  passed  around  the  Washington  Park  track, 
making  the  mile  in  1.375.  In  1855  Lexington  ran  four  miles 
in  7.192,  winning  $20,000  in  a  race  against  time.  In  1876  Ten 
Broeck,  in  a  race  against  time,  lowered  the  four-mile  record  to 
7.1 5 f.    This  same  year  he  made  a  mile  in  1.39I,  which  was  the 


THE  THOROUGHBRED 


23 


record  for  about  thirteen  years.  In  1881  Luke  Blackburn,  a  very 
famous  runner,  then  four  years  old,  made  a  mile  at  Jerome  Park 
in  1.45.  In  1880  he  also  made  a  record  of  2.34  for  a  mile  and 
a  half,  which  was  not  lowered  for  many  years. 

Records  by  Thoroughbreds  are  made  at  a  running  gait  under 
the  saddle.  In  England  there  are  three  so-called  classic  races 
each  year,  the  Derby,  Oaks,  and  St.  Leger.  Each  of  these  races 
is  very  old.  The  first  Derby  in  England  was  run  at  Epsom, 
May  4,  1780.  In  1784  the  distance  was  increased  from  one 
mile  to  one  and  one-half  mile.  The  following  are  the  English 
Derby  racing  records,  since  1890  : 

1890  Sainfoin,  by  Springfield,  2.49  1-4. 

1891  Common,  by  Isonomy,  2.56  4-5. 

1892  Sir  Hugo,  by  Wisdom,  2.44. 

1893  Isinglass,  by  Isonomy,  243. 

1894  Ladas,  by  Hampton,  2.45  4-5. 

1895  Sir  Visto,  by  Barcaldine,  2.43  3-5. 

1896  Persimmon,  by  St.  Simon,  2.42. 

1897  Galtee  Moore,  by  Kendal,  247. 

1898  Jeddah,  by  Janissary,  2.37. 

1899  Flying  Fox,  by  Orme,  2.38  2-5. 

1900  Diamond  Jubilee,  by  St.  Simon,  2.42. 

1 90 1  Volodyovski,  by  Florizel,  2.40  4-5. 

1902  Ard  Patrick,  by  St.  Florian,  2.42  1-5. 

1903  Rock  Sand,  by  Sainfoin,  2.42  4-5. 

1904  St.  Amant,  by  Frusquin,  2.45  4-5. 

1905  Cicero,  by  Cyllene,  2.39  3-5. 

In  America  one  of  the  great  running  races  of  the  year  is  the 
Suburban  Handicap,  of  one  and  one-fourth  miles,  run  at  Sheeps- 
head  Bay,  New  York.  The  following  are  the  more  recent  records 
of  that  annual  event,  showing  the  weight  of  jockey,  time  and 
money  won  by  the  winning  horse  : 

1890  Salvator,  127  lbs.,  2.064-5;  #6900. 

1 891  Loantaka,  no  lbs.,  2.07  ;  $9900. 

1892  Montana,  115  lbs.,  2.07  2-5  ;  $17,750. 

1893  Lowlander,  105  lbs.,  2.06  3-5;  $17,750. 

1894  Ramapo,  120  lbs.,  2.06  1-5  ;  $12,070. 

1895  Lazzarone,  115  lbs.,  2.07  4-5  ;  $473°- 

1896  Henry  of  Navarre,  128  lbs.,  2.07  ;  $5850. 

1897  Ben  Brush,  123  lbs.,  2.07  1-5  ;  $5850. 


24  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

1898  Tillo,  119  lbs.,  2.08  1-5  ;  $6800. 

1899  Imp,  114  lbs.,  2.08  2-5  ;  $6800. 

1900  Kinley  Mack,  125  lbs.,  2.06  4-5  ;  $6800. 

1901  Alcedo,  112  lbs.,  2.09  3-5  ;  $7800. 

1902  Gold  Heels,  124  lbs.,  2.05  1-5  ;  $7800. 

1903  Africander,  no  lbs.,  2.10  2-5  ;  $16,490. 

1903  (Renewal)  — Water  Boy,  1 12  lbs.,  2.04  3-5  ;  $9900. 

1904  Hermis,  127  lbs.,  2.05;  $17,000. 

1905  Beldame,  123  lbs.,  2.05  2-5  ;  $16,800. 

Famous  Thoroughbred  sires  of  winning  stock.  Each  year  a 
record  is  made  of  the  sire  of  Thoroughbreds  winning  the  most 
races.  The  table  on  the  opposite  page  shows  the  American 
records  from   1870  to  date. 

Lexington  proved  to  be  a  wonderful  horse.  In  twenty-one 
seasons  he  sired  600  horses  of  which  236  were  winners  of  races. 
During  fifteen  years  they  won  a  total  of  $1,159,321.  The 
influence  of  Lexington  was  very  far-reaching,  and  he  may  be 
regarded  as  one  of  the  very  greatest  of  American  Thorough- 
breds. 

The  two  imported  horses,  Leamington  and  Bonnie  Scotland, 
left  a  strong  impress  on  running-horse  blood.  The  former  was 
used  in  the  stud  in  England,  and  in  1865  was  purchased  for 
$7500,  by  Mr.  Cameron  and  brought  to  America.  A  daughter 
of  his  in  Ireland,  Miss  Theo,  proved  to  be  a  great  brood  mare. 
Parole,  a  son,  became  a  famous  racer. 

The  American-bred  horse,  Hanover,  by  Hindoo,  was  one  of 
the  more  celebrated  Thoroughbreds  in  recent  American  history. 
Foaled  in  1884,  he  early  showed  great  speed  and  became  a  turf 
favorite.     As  a  sire  he  attained  the  first  rank. 

A  Thoroughbred  studbook,  known  as  the  General  Studbook 
of  Great  Britain  is  published  in  England.  In  America  TJie 
American  Studbook  for  ThorougJibrcds  is  maintained  by  the 
American  Jockey  Club,  with  headquarters  in  New  York. 


THE  THOROUGHBRED 


25 


Year 

Name 

Age 

Winners 

Races 

Won 

Amount 
Won 

1870 

Lexington 

20 

35 

82 

$120,360 

1871 

Lexington 

21 

40 

I02 

109,095 

1872 

Lexington 

22 

28 

82 

7L5I5 

1873 

Lexington 

23 

23 

71 

7L565 

1874 

Lexington 

24 

23 

70 

51,889 

1875 

Imp.  Leamington 

22 

18 

32 

64,518 

1876 

Lexington 

26 

12 

34 

90,570 

1877 

Imp.  Leamington 

24 

21 

49 

41,170 

1878 

Lexington 

2S 

16 

36 

50,198 

1879 

Imp.  Leamington 

26 

24 

56 

70,837 

1880 

Imp.  Bonnie  Scotland 

24 

35 

137 

135,700 

l88l 

Imp.  Leamington 

28 

23 

61 

139,219 

1882 

Imp.  Billet 

18 

17 

43 

89,998 

1883 

Imp.  Bonnie  Scotland 

27 

35 

169 

103,475 

1884 

Imp.  Glenelg 

18 

32 

108 

98,862 

1885 

Virgil 

21 

24 

56 

73,235 

1886 

Imp.  Glenelg 

20 

34 

136 

113,638 

1887 

Imp.  Glenelg 

21 

33 

120 

120,031 

1888 

Imp.  Glenelg 

22' 

33 

134 

130,746 

1889 

Imp.  Rayon  d'Or 

J3 

27 

101 

175,877 

189O 

Imp.  St.  Blaise 

10 

27 

105 

189,005 

1891 

Longfellow 

24 

52 

143 

189,334 

1892 

Iroquois 

14 

34 

145 

183,026 

1893 

Himyar 

18 

27 

138 

249,502 

1894 

Imp.  Sir  Modred 

17 

36 

*37 

i34,3l8 

1895 

Hanover 

1 1 

40 

*33 

106,908 

1896 

Hanover 

12 

42 

i57 

86,853 

1897 

Hanover 

13 

54 

159 

122,374 

1898 

Hanover 

14 

43 

124 

118,590 

1899 

Imp.  Albert 

17 

19 

64 

95,975 

1900 

Kingston 

l6 

33 

no 

116,368 

1901 

Sir  Dixon 

16 

24 

94 

165,682 

1902 

Hastings 

9 

29 

63 

113,865 

1903 

Imp.  Ben  Strome 

17 

21 

91 

106,965 

1904 

Imp.  Meddler 

14 

21 

55 

227,555 

I905 

Hamburg 

10 

3° 

60 

158,160 

Explanatory  of  the  table,  the  horse  Lexington  in  1870  at  20  years  of  age  had 
35  sons  and  daughters  win  82  races  and  a  total  of  $120,360. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  AMERICAN  SADDLE  HORSE 

The  use  of  the  saddle  is  common  wherever  horses  are  in 
existence,  no  matter  what  the  type  or  character  of  animal.  Of 
the  various  classes  used,  the  one  which  has  the  most  highly  devel- 
oped movement  adapted  to  the  saddle  and  furnishes  the  most 
grace  of  motion  and  comfort  for  rider  is  the  American  saddle 
horse.  This  horse  does  not  as  yet  represent  a  fixed  breed,  but 
through  the  character  of  his  breeding  and  action  he  possesses 
much  that  is  interesting  to  the  student  of  horses. 

The  history  of  the  American  saddle  horse  extends  back  into 
Virginia,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  Missouri  more  intimately 
than  elsewhere,  for  in  these  states  the  active  work  of  his  devel- 
opment has  been  conducted.  Much  of  this  breeding  has  been 
done  in  Kentucky,  hence  the  common  term  "  Kentucky  saddle 
horse."  Early  in  the  history  of  Kentucky,  when  railways  were 
unknown  and  poor  roads  common,  horseback  riding  was  univer- 
sal. The  early  saddle  horses  were  hard-gaited,  and  this  resulted 
in  the  selection  of  the  better  type  of  Thoroughbreds,  easy  of  gait 
and  light  of  foot,  some  of  which  found  their  way  into  Kentucky 
from  Virginia.  A  few  easy  moving  mares,  with  an  ambling  or 
slow  pacing  gait,  were  sought  for  and  found  many  years  ago,  and 
to  them  Thoroughbred  saddle  stallions  of  easy  movement  were 
bred.  The  pacing  blood  came  in  part  from  Canada  and  New 
England,  and  so  involved  some  Morgan  breeding.  Thus  by 
selection  there  developed  a  class  of  very  easy-gaited  saddlers 
peculiar  to  Kentucky  and  adjacent  states.  Through  much  care 
and  selection  a  variety  of  gaits  developed  from  this  breeding, 
thus  giving  special  distinction  to  the  American  saddle  horse. 

The  influence  of  Thoroughbred  blood  on  the  American  saddle 
horse  is  interestingly  brought  out  by  investigations  made  by  Mr. 
John  H.  Ward.    He  found  that  the  1081   horses  registered  in 

26 


THE  AMERICAN  SADDLE  HORSE 


27 


Volume  I   of  the  studbook  contained  Thoroughbred  blood  as 
follows  : 


Of  pure  Thoroughbred  breeding       .... 

2  hors 

Containing  50  per  cent  Thoroughbred  blood 

u                2C      "         "                       "                         " 
((                 I2l    «         it                       «                          « 

"            6£  "      "               «                " 

3      u          u 

Of  uncertain  breeding 

50        « 
296       " 

343       " 

152       » 

36       « 

202       " 

Total 

1081 

Investigation  in  subsequent  studbooks  showed  no  material 
change  in  the  percentages  above  given. 

The  foundation  stock  of  the  American  saddle  horse  as  agreed 
upon  by  the  American  Saddle  Horse  Breeders'  Association,  after 
years  of  careful  investigation,  and  as  revised  in  1902,  consists  of 
the  ten  stallions  : 

Denmark  (Thoroughbred)  by  Imp.  Hedgeford. 
John  D/llara7,  by  Indian  Chief  (Canadian). 
Tom  Hal  (imported  from  Canada). 
Cabell's  Lexington,  by  Gist's  Black  Hawk  (Morgan). 
Coleman's  Eureka  (Thoroughbred  and  Morgan). 
Van  Meter's  Waxy  (Thoroughbred). 
Stu7np-TJie-Dealer  (Thoroughbred). 
Peter's  Hal  corn. 
Davy  Crockett. 
Pat  Cleburne,  by  Benton's  Gray  Diomed. 


Denmark  is  the  most  distinguished  animal  in  this  list.  His 
sire,  Hedgeford,  was  foaled  in  England  in  1825,  brought  over 
to  New  York  in  1832,  and  later  taken  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
died  in  1840.  His  son,  Denmark,  was  bred  to  what  is  known  as 
"Stevenson's  mare,"  from  which  came  unusually  good  results 
in  saddle-horse  lines,  she  producing  to  him  Gaines's  Denmark, 
Muir's  Denmark,  and  Rob  Roy.  The  former  proved  a  great 
breeding  stallion,  and  from  him  are  descended  many  of  the  best 
saddle  horses  of  to-day.  The  Denmark  horses  of  the  earlier 
days,  bred  to  the  pacing  stock  from  the  North,  produced  excel- 
lent  results.    Then   Thoroughbred   and   so-called  native  mares 


28  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

were  used,  and  the  blood  of  the  descendants  of  the  foundation 
stock  was  judiciously  blended,  from  which  has  been  derived  the 
best  of  modern  American  saddle-horse  character. 

The  two  most  famous  saddle  horses,  from  their  importance 
as  sires,  were  Black  Squirrel  58,  by  Black  Eagle  74,  tracing 
back  to  Denmark,  and  Montrose  106,  by  Diamond  Denmark  68. 
Black  Squirrel  sired  more  saddle  horses  of  renown  than  any  other 
stallion  of  this  class,  living  to  the  ripe  age  of  twenty-two  and  leav- 
ing a  long  list  of  distinguished  sons  and  daughters.  Black  Eagle 
74,  the  sire  of  Black  Squirrel,  was  also  a  great  breeder  as  well  as 
show  horse.  Among  other  celebrated  saddle  horses  are  Highland 
Denmark  750,  by  Black  Squirrel ;  Forest  Squirrel  801,  by  Black 
Squirrel  (first  prize  at  Columbian  Exposition) ;  Monte  Cristo  59, 
by  Montrose  106;  Red  Squirrel 53,  by  Black  Squirrel;  and  Black 
Squirrel  Jr.  2d  395,  by  Black  Squirrel;  Goodwin  1227,  by  High- 
land Denmark  (sent  to  Porto  Rico) ;  and  Cnpid  1 1 52,  by  the  same 
sire,  purchased  by  the  Japanese  government.  The  mares  Mollie, 
dam  of  Black  Squirrel  58 ;  Amelia,  by  Red  Eagle;  Patsy  McCord 
1600,  by  Black  Squirrel;  HigJiland Maid  1270,  by  Highland  Den- 
mark ;  Emily  855,  by  Bourbon  Chief,  by  Harrison  Chief  3841  ; 
Rowena  1362,  by  Chester  Dare  10,  by  Black  Squirrel  58  ;  and 
Miss  Rex  820,  by  Rex  Denmark. 

Characteristics  of  the  saddler.  These  do  not  materially  differ 
from  the  roadster  of  superior  conformation,  with  all  the  best 
quality  obtainable.  In  height  15  hands  1^  inches  to  15  hands 
2\  inches  is  the  standard,  with  weight  ranging  from  950  to  1050. 
For  ladies  the  lighter  type  is  preferred,  while  for  heavy  weights 
the  larger  type  is  more  desirable.  The  saddler  shows  much  style 
in  carriage  of  head  and  arch  of  neck  and  tail,  while  a  round,  well- 
turned,  neat  body  is  desired.  The  back  should  be  very  strong  in 
order  easily  to  sustain  weight.  The  shoulders  and  pasterns  must 
be  sloping  and  long,  the  pasterns  in  particular  being  long,  strong, 
and  springy,  thus  favoring  an  easy  gait. 

The  gaits  of  the  saddle  horse  are  especially  distinctive.  Sad- 
dlers may  be  divided  into  two  classes:  (1)  the  walk-trot-canter 
horse,  gaits  commonly  found  in  all  saddlers,  and  (2)  those  of  the 
American  saddle  horse  in  particular,  viz.  the  walk,  trot,  canter, 
rack,  and  the  running  walk,  or  fox  trot,  or  slow  pace. 


THE  AMERICAN  SADDLE  HORSE 


29 


A  comprehensive  discussion  of  the  gaits  of  the  saddle  horse, 

coming  from  the  pen  of  one  well  qualified  to  present  the  sub- 
ject,1 and  long  identified  with  saddle-horse  interests,  the  writer 
thinks  appropriate  to  introduce  here. 

There  are  different  kinds  of  saddle  horses,  and  they  are  classified  in  part 
at  least  by  their  gaits.    The  three  natural  gaits  of  a  horse  are  the  walk, 


«&'*m|         ■■'■'-     ^j]|j§  v   _  ^                   i^tf^^SMifll 

™ 

Fig.  8.  Gypsy  Queen.  An  American  saddle  horse,  first  in  class  of  gaited  sad- 
dlers at  Chicago  Horse  Show  in  1903  and  1904.  A  very  beautiful  mare, 
and  a  winner  at  numerous  shows.  From  photograph  from  Ball  Bros., 
Versailles,  Kentucky 


trot,  and  gallop  or  run.  Artificially,  that  is  by  education,  the  gallop  is  made 
into  a  canter,  which  is  a  gait  performed  by  practically  the  same  movement 
of  the  legs,  but  slower,  more  restrained,  and  easier  to  ride.  We  then  have 
one  kind  of  a  saddle  horse  called  the  ivalk-trot-canter  or  plain-gaited  horse. 
This  horse  suits  a  lot  of  people,  primarily,  because  they  do  not  know  any 

1  Editorial  by  W.  R.  Goodwin,  Jr.,  Breeders'  Gazette,  June  10,  1903. 


30 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


other  gait ;  secondarily,  because  they  are  imitators  of  the  English  fashion  of 
riding ;  and  lastly,  and  leastly,  because  they  do  not  like  other  educated  and 
easier  gaits. 

These  easier  gaits  are  the  running  walk  and  the  rack.  The  latter  is  also 
called  single  foot,  inasmuch  as  in  this  gait  each  foot  has  a  separate  impact 
on  the  ground,  no  two  of  them  striking  it  at  the  same  time,  as  in  the  trot 
and  pace. 

The  running  walk  is  called  a  slow  gait,  and  there  are  two  other  gaits 
allied  to  it,  —  the  slow  pace  and  the  fox  trot.  The  name  "running  walk" 
defines  the  gait  accurately,  and  at  once  identifies  it  to  the  understanding. 

It  is  faster  than  a  flat-foot 
walk,  and  is  produced  by  a 
movement  of  the  legs  more 
rapid  than  in  a  walk,  but  in 
about  the  same  rhythm ;  that 
is,  each  foot  strikes  the 
ground  independently  of 
the  others.  Most  horses 
going  the  running  walk  bob 
or  nod  their  heads,  and  some 
of  them  even  flop  their  ears 
in  rhythm  with  their  footfalls. 
1 1  is  an  all-day  gait,  easy  alike 
to  the  horse  and  the  rider, 
and  it  covers  ground  at  an 
astonishing  fashion  for  its 
apparent  speed.  It  is  taught 
by  urging  a  horse  out  of  the 
walk  but  restraining  him 
from  a  trot. 

The  slow  pace  is  a  some- 
what similar  movement  but 
borders  more  on  the  side- 
wheel  gait  or  lateral  pace,  in  which  the  two  feet  on  one  side  of  a  horse 
strike  the  ground  at  the  same  instant.  The  true  pace,  however,  is  in  no 
sense  a  saddle  gait.  It  is  rough  and  uncomfortable.  A  rider  cannot  rise  to 
it  and  save  himself,  as  in  a  trot,  and  it  is  positively  the  worst  gait  a  saddle 
horse  can  possess.  In  the  slow  pace  this  side-wheel  motion  is  slightly  modi- 
fied so  that  the  impact  on  the  ground  of  the  two  feet  on  a  side  is  broken, 
thus  avoiding  the  rolling  motion  of  the  true  pace.  The  slow  pace  is  a  very 
comfortable  gait,  and  is  very  showy,  especially  when  a  horse  throws  just  a 
bit  of  knee  action  into  it.  It  has  grown  common  in  the  show  ring  during 
recent  years,  as  saddle-horse  trainers  appreciate  its  catchy  qualities  and 
endeavor  to  teach  their  horses  to  go  this  gait.  The  best  saddle-horse  men, 
however,  do  not  look  on  it  with  favor,  as  it  is  so  easily  corrupted  into  the 


k^^^K^mB 

y<m 

Mfcir         \  4JH^MlC     R>'!tI^I 

I  m 

JT1  !T?'v,y^B   ^B^'tJ^B 

ESS 

■*^^^^H                i/^ 

iSfe 

■  -mt. 

■s 

Fig.  9.  Lady  Bonnie.  Champion  three-gaited 
American  saddle  horse  at  Chicago  Horse 
Show,  1904,  owned  by  Miss  Jennie  Bull, 
Racine,  Wisconsin.  From  photograph  from 
Miss  Bull 


THE  AMERICAN  SADDLE  HORSE 


31 


abominable  side-wheel  pace,  which  ruins  a  saddle  horse  for  comfortable  and 
satisfactory  work.  Unless  a  rider  is  careful  his  mount  may  almost  imper- 
ceptibly degenerate  from  a  distinct  and  correct  slow  pace  into  a  plainly 
denned  pace,  and  then  there  is  sure  enough  trouble. 

The  fox  trot  is  a  slow  trot  or  a  jog  trot.  It  is  a  rather  peculiar  gait  and 
not  so  desirable  as  the  running  walk  or  the  slow  pace.  Some  horses  can- 
not acquire  either  of  these  two  gaits  and  so  their  trainers  pull  them  down 
into  a  very  slow  trot  and  seek  to  pass  that  gait  off  as  a  fox  trot.    It  is  a 


Fig.  10.    Showing  saddle  horses.    The  St.  Louis  Fair,  1899. 
from  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 


Photograph 


broken-time  gait,  in  a  measure,  somewhat  easier  than  a  pure  trot,  and  when 
cleanly  performed  it  will  answer  as  a  business  gait. 

The  trot  is  the  diagonal  gait.  The  off  fore  foot  and  the  near  hind  foot 
strike  the  ground  at  the  same  instant  and  the  horse  bounds  off  them  to  hit 
the  ground  again  with  the  near  fore  and  the  off  hind.  This  gives  a  two-beat 
gait.  The  impact  of  the  feet  on  the  ground  is  one,  two,  one,  two. 

The  pace  is  the  lateral  gait.  The  off  fore  and  off  hind  foot  hit  the  ground 
at  the  same  interval,  and  the  other  pair  on  the  near  side  follow.  This  is 
also  a  two-beat  gait. 

The  rack  is  a  four-beat  gait.  Each  foot  hits  the  ground  at  a  separate 
interval  in  a  one-two- three-four  beat.  The  rack  can  be  distinguished  by 
ear  as  far  as  the  footfalls  of  the  horse  may  be  heard ;  each  foot  rings  clear 
its  own  note  on  the  hard  ground.  In  teaching  the  rack  the  horse  is  forced 
forward  by  the  spur  and  restrained  by  the  curb.    His  diagonal  gait  is  thereby 


32  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

broken  up  and  he  flies  into  a  four-beat  gait.  The  rack  is  easy  for  the 
rider,  hard  for  the  horse.  It  is  a  showy  gait  and  is  performed  at  great  speed 
sometimes.  The  trainer  who  has  a  fast  racking  horse  will  generally  keep 
him  on  that  gait  when  in  the  show  ring,  hoping  to  dazzle  the  judge  by  the 
flashiness  of  the  performance.  .  .  .  This  gait  has  been  officially  named 
the  rack  by  the  American  Saddle  Horse  Breeders'  Association,  and  hence 
the  name  "  single  foot "  should  not  be  used,  as  it  merely  leads  to  confusion 
among  the  uninformed. 

The  five  gaits  recognized  by  that  association  are  the  walk,  trot,  canter, 
rack,  and  the  running  walk,  or  slow  pace,  or  fox  trot.  Any  one  of  these 
three  slow  gaits  will  answer.  Some  horses  can  go  only  one  of  them,  some 
can  show  them  all.  When  a  horse  can  show  these  five  gaits  he  is  called  a 
gaited  horse. 

The  prices  paid  for  superior  saddle  horses  often  run  into  high 
figures,  $500  to  $1000  not  being  uncommon.  There  is  but  a 
limited  supply  of  gaited  saddlers,  and  these  are  always  in  demand 
by  a  class  of  patrons  who  are  willing  to  pay  a  price  consistent 
with  merit.  In  1906  Major  David  Castleman  is  reported  to  have 
sold  the  stallion,  The  Moor  1907,  by  Cecil  Palmer,  for  $7500,  to 
General  William  Palmer,  of  Colorado  Springs.  This  same  year 
General  John  B.  Castleman,  of  Kentucky,  sold  the  mares  Enge?iia, 
by  Highland  Denmark,  out  of  Emily,  and  Magna,  by  Cromwell 
Jr.,  out  of  Maria,  to  J.  A.  Davis,  of  Massachusetts,  for  $5000. 

The  American  Saddle  Horse  Breeders'  Association  was  organ- 
ized at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  in  1891,  as  the  National  Saddle 
Horse  Breeders'  Association.  In  1899  the  name  was  changed 
to  the  American  Saddle  Horse  Breeders'  Association.  Thus  far 
five  volumes  of  the  studbook  have  been  published. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE   ROADSTER  TYPE 

The  roadster,  or  light  harness  horse,  occupies  a  class  by  itself, 
representing  a  lighter  type  of  driver  than  the  coach  horse.  Such 
a  horse  is  desirable  for  speed,  in  rapidly  conveying  along  roadways 
a  light  driving  vehicle.  The  American  trotter  or  pacer  is  the 
common  type  used  for  this  work.  Speed  and  endurance  seem 
to  be  the  principal  points  sought  in  the  roadster,  and  less  uni- 
formity of  type  is  found  in  this  class  than  in  any  other.  Light 
harness  horses  vary  widely  in  height,  weight,  and  conformation. 

The  best  type  of  roadster  stands  from  15I  to  15!  hands  high 
and  weighs  about  a  thousand  pounds.  In  conformation  this  horse 
tends  to  be  angular,  the  muscles  and  joints  showing  prominence, 
with  the  ribs  more  or  less  noticeable.  There  is  proportionately 
less  body  and  more  leg,  a  thinner  neck,  with  muscularity  at  the 
croup  and  quarters. 

Discussed  in  some  detail,  the  following  are  the  more  important 
characteristics  in  the  roadster.  The  head  as  a  whole  is  lean, 
small,  refined,  denoting  intelligence,  spirit,  and  vigor.  The  neck 
is  inclined  to  be  slender  and  long  with  a  straight  top,  though  ewe 
necks  are  not  uncommon  among  mares  and  geldings  of  this  class. 
The  shoulders  are  quite  oblique  and  long,  and  are  set  deep  in  the 
back,  ending  at  the  withers,  which  are  sharper  and  more  promi- 
nent than  in  any  other  type  of  horse.  The  long  sloping  shoulder, 
with  powerful  muscle  attachment,  accounts  for  the  long  and  pow- 
erful front  reach  of  the  roadster  when  in  motion.  The  arm  should 
be  large  for  the  size  of  the  horse,  and  the  fore  arm  very  mus- 
cular, being  wide  and  thick  at  the  top,  with  muscle  well  carried 
down,  and  from  elbow  to  knee  fully  twice  as  long  as  the  cannon 
bone.  The  legs  show  prominent  and  strong  development,  with 
the  tendons  most  prominent  and  very  free  from  fleshiness.  The 
leg  of  the  roadster  is  often  lacking  in  depth  at  the  upper  part  of 

33 


34 


THE  HORSE.  ASS,  AND  MULE 


the  cannon,  whereas  it  should  be  of  good  depth  and  the  bone 
haul,  smooth,  ami   flat.     The  pasterns  should  stand  at   an  angle 

oi  about  45  degrees  with  the  floor,  and  be  long,  smooth,  and 
springy,  'The  feet  should  be  oi  good  size,  round,  wide  at  top, 
well  developed  at  heel,  and  preferably  dark  of  bone.  The  chest 
usually  presents  less  breadth  and  more  proportionate  depth,  the 
roadster  thus  often  seeming  narrow-chested.  Plenty  of  lung 
capacity,  with  prominent  breast,  is  essential,  but  these  features 
are   not    inconsistent    with   such   a    form   of   chest.     The  body 


Fig.  i  i.  Rhea  W,  and  Elastei  Belle.  A  great  pair  oi  prize  winning  roadsters. 
Champions  at  National  Horse  Show.  Madison  Square  Garden,  New  York, 
1904.  Owned  by  Miss  K.  L.  Wilks,  Gait,  Ontario,  Canada.  Photograph 
from  the  ownei 


should  be  strongly  ribbed,  the  back  short,  the  coupling  close, 
the  loin  strong  and  muscular,  and  the  entire  both'  framework 
indicating  constitution.  Muscle  and  not  fat  is  what  the  roadster 
should  carry,  and  thus  his  body  frequently  appears  lacking  in 
capacity,  as  is  in  fact  the  case.  Some  of  the  most  famous 
trotters  and  pacers  have  certainly  appeared  to  lack  girth,  with 
flanks  high,  and  circumference  around  the  body  at  hind  flank 
distinctly  less  than  good  conformation  would  imply  desirable. 
A  strong  but  not  overprominent  hip  is  preferable.  The  croup 
is  one  of  the  most  variable  features  of  the  roadster.  Length, 
breadth,   and   levelness  are  associated   with  the  trot,   but   the 


'JUL   ROADSTER   TYPE 


35 


for  many   a  pa4  t,  for 

a  horse  with  easily  than  tx 

interference  than  would  occur  in  trotting. 
ad  quarters  are  usuall;  ;;ng  a 

great  proporti  fflgth  from  hip  to 

with  tlje  Thoroughbred    1  bould  be  deep  and  str 

.  Jar,  and  should  b  and  true  in  relation  tc 

other.    If  the  e  in  and 

the  ].  ait  often  natural:  Trueni  ion  of 

ire  a  true  it  if  the  feet  are  prop- 

erly shod  and  balanced.     Quality  . 
This   .  in  the  fine  hair  and  soft  skin,  the  I 

head  and  limbs,  the  prornine:.  and  muscles,  and  the 

harmony  and  symmetry  of  parts.    Action  of  * 
kind  :  for  in  this  type.     It 

to  right  nor  left ;  each   foot  must  be  along  the  proper 

and  the  movement,  no  matter  of  what  kind. 
and  free  of  interference  or   clumsi 

k  action,  with  the  feet  picked  up  smartly,  is  most 

vial.     Horses  of  this  class  carry  the  lei; 

and  back,  thus  having  a  greater  stride,  with   less  elevation   of 

:  and  hock,  than  t:  ion  of  the  roadster, 

ver,  should  approach  that  of  the  coacher,  up  to  the  point 

where  speed  is  not  sacrificed  for  coach  form. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  AMERICAN  TROTTER 

The  history  of  the  English  trotting  horse  goes  back  for  several 
centuries.  About  Norfolk  and  Yorkshire,  trotters  were  great 
favorites  two  centuries  ago,  and  trotting  races  of  an  unofficial 
character  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  Old  records  tell  us  that 
the  Norfolk  trotting  mare  Phenomena  in  1800  trotted  17  miles  in 
56  minutes  on  the  Huntingdon  road,  carrying  a  weight  in  saddle 
of  about  225  pounds.  In  1806  the  horse  Pretender  trotted  16  miles 
within  an  hour,  carrying  210  pounds.  All  the  early  racing  records 
were  made  under  the  saddle.  In  connection  with  the  early  evolu- 
tion of  the  Hackney  its  use  as  a  trotter  and  racer  became  popular. 

The  early  use  of  the  trotter  in  America  no  doubt  extends  back 
into  colonial  times,  though  to  what  degree  is  uncertain.  What 
were  probably  running  horses  were  taken  from  England  to  Mas- 
sachusetts as  early  as  1629.  Horses  of  this  class  were  also  bred 
in  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas.  The  recorded  use  of  the  trotter 
in  America  extends  back  to  the  first  part  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. In  1802  a  law  forbidding  all  horse  racing  and  trotting 
was  enacted  in  New  York,  but  this  law  was  amended  in  1821, 
to  permit  training,  pacing,  trotting,  and  running  of  horses  upon 
certain  regulated  courses  in  Queen's  County  on  Long  Island. 
Early  trotting  records  take  us  back  to  June,  1806,  when  the 
horse  Yankee,  under  saddle,  trotted  a  mile  in  2.59  on  the  Har- 
lem race  course,  New  York.  On  August  25,  18 10,  a  horse  from 
Boston  is  reported  to  have  trotted  a  mile  at  Philadelphia  in  har- 
ness in  2.48^.  Later,  in  18 18,  Boston  Blue  made  an  authentic 
mile  in  3.00  at  Jamaica,  New  York.  This  record  compares  favor- 
ably with  English  records  in  Norfolk  and  elsewhere. 

A  most  important  source  of  trotting  blood  in  America  was  the 
importation  of  the  stallions  Messenger  and  Bellfounder,  whose 
histories  are  worthy  of  special  mention. 

36 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTER  37 

Messenger,  commonly  known  as  Imported  Messenger,  was  a 
Thoroughbred,  his  pedigree  tracing  back  through  his  sire  to 
Flying  Childers  and  the  Darley  Arabian.  He  was  foaled  in  1780 
in  England  and  proved  a  successful  racer,  and  as  a  five-year-old 
won  the  King's  Plate.  Believing  that  he  would  do  valuable  serv- 
ice in  the  stud,  he  was  imported  to  the  United  States  in  May, 
1788.  Messenger,  however,  though  a  trotting  sire,  had  no  imme- 
diate descendants  that  proved  to  be  noted  trotters.  He  secured 
his  chief  fame  through  his  son  Mambrino,  a  Thoroughbred,  that 
in  turn  was  sire  of  Abdallah,  a  breeder  of  trotters.  Messenger 
was  a  gray,  15 J  hands  high,  with  strong  loins  and  powerful  hind 
quarters.  He  was  in  stud  service  for  twenty  years  in  America, 
—  in  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  and  New  York.  He  died  Janu- 
ary 28,  1808,  leaving  a  lineage  of  driving  horses  of  remarkable 
excellence. 

Bellfounder,  known  as  Jary's  Bellfounder  in  England  and  as 
Imported  Bellfounder  in  the  United  States,  was  foaled  in  18 15, 
and  was  imported  from  Norfolk  in  1822.  He  was  a  bright  bay, 
with  black  mane,  tail,  and  legs,  stood  15  hands  high,  and  was  a 
natural  trotter.  At  the  time  he  was  brought  to  America  he  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  very  fleetest  and  most  powerful  trotters, 
and  is  said  to  have  trotted  17  miles  in  an  hour.  Velocity,  his 
dam,  trotted  16  miles  in  an  hour  on  the  Norwich  road  in  1806, 
while  two  years  later  she  is  reported  to  have  made  18  miles  in 
1  hour  and  47  seconds.  Thus  it  can  be  seen  how  a  strong  line 
of  trotting  blood  was  brought  to  America.  Bellfounder  was  taken 
to  Orange  County,  New  York,  where  he  went  into  stud  service. 
Here  he  sired  the  Charles  Kent  Mare,  a  most  important  con- 
necting link  with  his  American  fame.  Bellfounder  died  on  Long 
Island  in  1843. 

Trotting  families  of  note  have  been  developed  in  America 
during  the  past  century,  from  which  are  descended  the  trotting 
horses  of  eminence  to-day.  The  families  introduced  below  are 
recognized  as  the  most  important.  The  judicious  blending  of 
these  families  has,  in  cases,  resulted  in  very  great  success,  as  for 
example  in  the  case  of  the  Hambletonian  and  Mambrino. 

The  Hambletonian  family.  On  May  15,  1849,  the  Charles 
Kent  Mare  gave  birth  to  a  male  foal  from  service  of  Abdallah, 


38  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

the  grandson  of  Messenger.  This  mare  was  owned  by  Jonas 
Seely  of  Chester,  Orange  County,  New  York,  who  later  sold 
her  with  foal  at  side  to  William  M.  Rysdyk  for  $125.  This 
colt  was  later  named  Hambletonian  10,  and  is  frequently  re- 
ferred to  as  Rysdyk's  Hambletonian.  This  stallion  proved  the 
founder  of  the  most  famous  American  family  of  trotters,  for  to 
him  may  be  traced  many  of  the  most  illustrious  trotters  of  his- 
tory. In  185 1  Hambletonian  began  service  in  stud,  which,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year  (1868),  he  continued  until  1872.  Dur- 
ing twenty-one  years  of  service  he  sired  1287  foals,  the  service 
fees  for  which  amounted  to  $185,715.  Hambletonian  10  was  a 
bay  in  color,  with  a  star  and  white  hind  ankles,  stood  15^  hands 
high,  and  was  powerful  in  build.  His  head  was  large,  with 
pleasant  eyes,  his  neck  and  shoulders  strong,  the  body  round 
and  full,  legs  and  feet  of  superior  character,  and  he  stood  some- 
what higher  behind  than  in  front.  As  a  three-year-old  Hamble- 
tonian made  a  record  of  2.48^  over  the  Union  course.  He 
died  March  27,  1876,  long  after  his  value  as  a  sire  began  to  be 
appreciated.  He  was  undoubtedly  the  greatest  progenitor  in 
American  trotting  history. 

Among  the  famous  sons  and  daughters  of  Hambletonian  10  are 
Alexander's  Abdallah,  Electioneer,  George  Wilkes,  Aberdeen, 
Volunteer,  Happy  Medium,  Harold,  Strathmore,  Dictator,  Dexter, 
Nettie  2.18,  Orange  Girl  2.20,  Gazelle  2.21,  Jay  Gould  2.2  ih, 
and  Bella  2.22.  The  first  eight  of  these  proved  very  prepotent 
sires,  and  thus  demonstrated  the  value  of  their  remarkable  sire. 

The  Mambrino  family.  This  family  is  named  from  Mambrino 
Chief,  foaled  in  1844,  and  bred  by  Richard  Eldridge  of  Dutchess 
County,  New  York.  Mambrino  Chief  was  by  Mambrino  Pay- 
master and  he  by  Mambrino,  the  Thoroughbred  son  of  Mes- 
senger. His  dam  is  untraced.  He  was  a  dark  brown  stallion 
about  16  hands  high  ;  by  some  referred  to  as  coarse,  though  he 
proved  a  very  superior  breeder.  Mambrino  Chief  was  taken  to 
Kentucky  in  1854,  where  he  went  into  active  service  and  passed 
the  rest  of  his  days.  His  son,  Mambrino  Patchen,  sired  scores  of 
trotters,  while  his  daughter,  Dolly,  was  the  dam  of  Onward, 
Director,  and  Thorndale,  a  remarkable  trio.  Mambrino  King,  by 
Mambrino  Patchen,  was  regarded  by  many  as  the  most  beautiful 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTER 


39 


Pedigree  of  Hambletonian  io 


'  Messenger 
(Thoroughbred) 


'  Mambrino 
(trotter) 


fAbdallah 
(trotter) 


Hambletonian 
io 


^  Mare  by 


(     Son  of 
Amazonia      I  Messenger 
k    (trotter)       1 

^Unknown 


f  Bellfounder 

„  ,JtaryS,  (trotter) 

Bellfounder  <;       v  ' 


Mambrino,  by 
Engineer, 
<    by  Sampson 

k  Dam  by  Turf 

r  Sour  Crout 
(Imp.) 


f  Messenger 


Charles  Kent 
Mare 


(trotter) 


Unknown 


One  Eye 


Bishop's 
Hambletonian   ■{ 
(trotte?-) 


Silvertail 


f  Messenger 
(Imp.) 


Pheasant,  by 
Shark 


Messenger 
(Imp.) 

Black  Jin 
(untraced) 


horse  in  America  in  his  day.  Lady  Thorn,  a  daughter  of  Mam- 
brino Chief,  trotted  106  heats  inside  2.30,  and  won  national 
fame.  The  union  of  the  descendants  of  Mambrino  Chief  and 
Hambletonian  10  produced  most  efficient  results. 

The  Morgan  family.  This  is  one  of  our  oldest  trotting  families, 
and  inherits  its  name  from  a  stallion  named  Justin  Morgan, 
foaled  in  1793  at  West  Springfield,  Massachusetts.     From  this 


4o 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND   MULE 


place  he  was  taken  to  Vermont,  in  which  state  this  family  of 
horses  has  gained  great  distinction.  Justin  Morgan  was  sired  by 
True  Briton,  whose  ancestry  may  be  traced  back  to  the  Godolphin 
Barb  ;  his  dam  is  given  as  Diamond,  she  also  tracing  back  to  the 
Godolphin  Barb.  It  is  but  fair  to  state  here  that  the  breeding  of 
Justin  Morgan  is  more  or  less  questioned,  and  the  above  ances- 
try is  based  on  investigations  of  Joseph  Battell  of  Middlebury, 


Fig.  12.  Arion.  The  highest-priced  American  trotter.  Purchased  by  J.  Malcolm 
Forbes,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  for  $125,000.  Now  owned  by  M.  W.  Sav- 
age, Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  Arion  holds  the  fastest  record  for  a  three- 
year-old  colt  of  2.1O0.    Illustration  by  courtesy  of  Mr.  Savage 


Vermont.  This  stallion  is  described  as  about  14  hands  high, 
weight  950  pounds,  dark  bay  with  black  points,  and  possessed  of 
great  vitality;  he  died  in  182 1,  at  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  fast  walker,  a  good  trotter,  and  was  most  intelligent,  being 
used  as  a  military  charger  or  parade  horse,  as  a  short-distance 
runner  and  a  farm  work  horse.  He  proved  to  be  a  wonderfully 
prepotent  stallion,  and  on  his  blood  is  founded  the  Morgan  horse 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTER 


41 


family.  There  is  a  register  for  Morgan  horses ;  already  about 
five  thousand  have  been  recorded  in  the  second  volume,  and  to 
be  eligible  for  registration  the  pedigree  of  every  horse  recorded 
must  trace  in  some  degree  to  Justin  Morgan. 

Justin  Morgan  had  a  long  stud  career,  but  he  did  not  produce 
great  breeding  sons  in  the  same  degree  as  did  Hambletonian  10. 
Three  of  his  sons,  Bulrush,  Woodbury,  and  Sherman  Morgan, 
were  his  greatest  offspring.  A  son  of  Sherman  Morgan,  named 
Black  Hawk,  foaled  in  1833,  was  a  trotter  and  vigorous  sire,  and 
fourteen  of  his  sons  became  recognized  trotters.  Ethan  Allen, 
his  greatest  son,  was  bred  in  New  York  State,  and  was  foaled  in 
1849  from  a  dam  of  unknown  ancestry.  He  became  very  famous 
and  popular  as  a  successful  trotter  and  he  proved  also  to  be  a 
great  sire.  The  mare  Pocahontas,  by  Iron's  Cadmus,  with  a 
record  of  2.17^  in  1855,  bred  to  Ethan  Allen,  became  the  dam 
of  another  Pocahontas,  for  which  Robert  Bonner  later  on  paid 
$40,000.  Among  the  thirty-six  producing  sons  and  daughters  of 
Ethan  Allen  no  one  attained  such  distinction  as  did  Daniel 
Lambert,  himself  the  sire  of  thirty-eight  trotters.  The  sire  of 
the  dam  of  Daniel  Lambert  was  Abdallah,  the  sire  of  Hamble- 
tonian 10.  Later  years  have  shown  that  the  Hambletonian  and 
Morgan  families  could  be  bred  together  to  very  great  advantage. 

At  the  present  time  the  United  States  government  is  conduct- 
ing special  experiments  with  the  purpose  in  view  of  developing 
an  American  breed  of  heavy  harness  horses.  The  Morgan  family 
is  being  used  to  furnish  much  of  the  important  blood  used  in  this 
work.  The  stallion  Carmon,  a  descendant  of  Justin  Morgan,  is 
the  chief  stallion  in  use  in  the  stud  at  the  Colorado  Experiment 
Station,  where  the  government  is  conducting  this  work.  The 
Vermont  Experiment  Station  is  also  establishing  a  stud  of 
Morgans,  where  experimental  breeding  will  be  conducted  under 
government  direction. 

The  Clay  family.  In  1820  a  stallion  was  imported  from  Trip- 
oli, foaled  in  18 16,  that  was  regarded  as  of  great  beauty,  action, 
and  speed.  He  was  a  small  iron  gray,  standing  14^  hands  high. 
Used  in  the  stud  near  Philadelphia  he  sired  Young  Bashaw  out 
of  a  granddaughter  of  Imported  Messenger.  Young  Bashaw 
sired    Andrew    Jackson,   the    fastest   trotter  of  his   day.     The 


42  THE   HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

trotting  mare  Lady  Surrey,  brought  from  Canada  and  owned  by 
George  M.  Patchen,  was  bred  to  Andrew  Jackson,  from  which 
in  1837  sne  dropped  a  foal,  named  Henry  Clay,  the  sire  from 
which  this  family  derives  its  name.  Henry  Clay  sired  Black 
Douglas  and  Cassius  M.  Clay,  the  latter  celebrated  in  his  day 
and  the  sire  of  George  M.  Patchen.  The  latter  made  a  record 
of  2.2 3 \  in  i860  and  later  became  a  distinguished  sire,  six- 
teen of  his  sons  having  standard  records  and  thirty-five  of  his 
daughters  being  dams  of  either  trotters  or  pacers. 

The  Pilot  family.  A  black  or  dark  brown  horse  by  the  name 
of  Pilot  first  attracted  attention  in  this  family.  He  was  foaled  in 
1828  in  the  province  of  Quebec.  His  sire  is  unknown  and  his 
dam  was .  Jeanne  d' Arc,  by  Voyager.  When  eighteen  months 
old  he  was  taken  to  Connecticut,  and  in  1830  to  New  York.  In 
1 83 1  he  was  sold  to  go  to  New  Orleans  and  in  1832  he  was 
returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  died  about  1853  on  the  farm  of 
Robert  Bell  near  Henderson.  Pilot  was  not  only  a  pacer  but  he 
would  also  trot.  His  greatest  son  was  Pilot  Jr.,  a  gray  horse 
15^  hands  high,  foaled  in  1844,  out  of  Nancy  Polk  by  Funk's 
Havoc.  Pilot  Jr.  was  a  very  successful  breeder  of  brood  mares. 
Bred  to  Sally  Russell,  a  Thoroughbred  daughter  of  Boston,  he 
sired  Miss  Russell,  one  of  the  greatest  American  brood  mares, 
the  mother  of  the  great  Maud  S.  Another  daughter,  Midnight, 
out  of  a  Thoroughbred  daughter  of  Lexington,  was  the  dam  of 
Jay- Eye-See  with  a  pacing  record  of  2.06}  and  a  trotting  record 
of  2.10.  Waterwitch,  another  daughter  of  Pilot  Jr.,  produced 
nineteen  foals  that  lived,  six  of  which  made  records  of  2.30  or 
better.  The  family  history  of  Pilot  is  more  or  less  obscure.  He 
bred  both  pacers  and  trotters,  and  rendered  valuable  service  to 
the  American  racing-horse  interests. 

Hal  family.  Years  ago  down  in  Kentucky  there  was  kept 
a  roan  saddle  horse,  bred  in  Canada,  known  as  Tom  Hal.  It  is 
said  that  he  was  much  abused  in  his  time,  was  ridden  nearly  to 
death  over  rocky  roads  by  a  drunken  wretch  in  an  elm-crotch 
saddle.  For  years  he  stood  at  a  fee  of  $5.00  to  insure,  with  no  pay 
if  he  did  not  get  a  good  saddle  horse.  His  ancestry  is  somewhat 
obscure,  but  it  is  claimed  that  he  had  Morgan  blood  in  his  veins. 
Tom  Hal  attained  fame  as  the  sire  of  Gibson's  Tom  Hal,  the 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTER 


43 


sire  of  Hal  Pointer  2.04k  Little  Brown  Jug  2. 1 1|,  and  Brown  Hal 
2. 12^.  The  latter  became  the  sire  of  Star  Pointer,  a  pacer  of  mar- 
velous speed,  character,  and  endurance,  that  reduced  the  pacing 
record  to  1.504.  Brown  Hal  is  the  sire  of  about  fifty  in  the  list, 
including  Hal  Dillard  2.04!,  Hal  Chaffin  2.05 1,  Elastic  Pointer 
2.o6£,  Star  Hal  2.06J,  and  Hal  Braden  2.07^.  This  is  the  most 
distinguished  family  embracing  a  large  percentage  of  pacing  blood. 


Holds  trotting  championship  of  the  world,  at  1.58^. 
The  most  sensational  trotter  in  American  history.  Owned  by  C.  K.  G. 
Billings,  Chicago,  Illinois.  From  photograph  taken  in  1905,  by  courtesy 
National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

The  type  of  the  American  trotter  is  far  from  being  fixed.  No 
breed  of  horses  has  been  produced  under  more  variable  condi- 
tions, and  no  recognized  breed  of  stock  contains  a  greater  varia- 
tion in  size,  color,  and  character  than  does  this  light  harness 
breed.  In  fact,  there  is  so  little  breed  type  that  many  persons 
refuse  to  recognize  it  as  a  breed.  In  its  best  development  this 
light  harness  horse  has  symmetry  of  form,  —  a  lean,  intelligent 
head  ;  a  medium  long,  refined,  and  graceful  neck ;  sloping,  well- 
laid  shoulders  ;  sharp  withers  ;  fairly  level,  short,  strong  back ; 
graceful,  muscular  croup,  with  tail  well  carried  and  set  high ;  lean, 


44  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

muscular  thigh ;  round,  deep  body ;  and  legs  short,  clean,  fine  boned, 
and  with  excellent  feet.  This  horse  has  a  strong,  long,  quick 
stride,  a  clean  hock  action,  and  greater  activity  of  motion  than 
any  other  trotter  known.  Weights  of  1 150  pounds  for  a  stallion 
and  900  pounds  for  a  mare  are  very  acceptable  ;  while  any  color 
will  pass,  although  bays  and  browns  are  most  numerous. 

What  is  a  standard-bred  trotter?  In  1882  the  constitution  of 
the  National  Association  of  Trotting  Horse  Breeders,  an  associ- 
ation organized  in  1876,  was  amended,  and  among  the  rules 
adopted  were  the  following. 

In  order  to  define  what  constitutes  a  trotting-bred  horse,  and  to  estab- 
lish a  breed  of  trotters  on  a  more  intelligent  basis,  the  following  rules  are 
adopted  to  control  admission  to  the  records  of  pedigrees.  When  an  animal 
meets  with  the  requirements  of  admission  and  is  duly  registered,  it  shall  be 
accepted  as  a  standard  trotting-bred  animal. 

First.  Any  stallion  that  has,  himself,  a  record  of  two  minutes  and  thirty 
seconds  (2.30)  or  better  ;  provided  any  of  his  get  has  a  record  of  2.40  or 
better  ;  or  provided  his  sire  or  his  dam,  his  grandsire  or  his  grandam,  is 
already  a  standard  animal. 

Second.    Any  mare  or  gelding  that  has  a  record  of  2.30  or  better. 

Third.  Any  horse  that  is  the  sire  of  two  animals  with  a  record  of  2.30  or 
better. 

Fourth.  Any  horse  that  is  the  sire  of  one  animal  with  a  record  of  2.30 
or  better  ;  provided  he  has  either  of  the  following  additional  qualifications  : 
(1)  a  record  himself  of  2.40  or  better;  (2)  is  the  sire  of  two  other  animals 
with  a  record  of  2.40  or  better;  (3)  has  a  sire  or  dam,  grandsire  or  gran- 
dam, that  is  already  a  standard  animal. 

Fifth.  Any  mare  that  has  produced  an  animal  with  a  record  of  2.30  or 
better. 

Sixth.    The  progeny  of  a  standard  horse  when  out  of  a  standard  mare. 

Seventh.  The  progeny  of  a  standard  horse  out  of  a  mare  by  a  standard  horse. 

Eighth.  The  progeny  of  a  standard  horse  when  out  of  a  mare  whose  dam 
is  a  standard  mare. 

Ninth.  Any  mare  that  has  a  record  of  2.40  or  better,  and  whose  sire  or 
dam,  grandsire  or  grandam,  is  a  standard  animal. 

Tenth.  A  record  to  wagon  of  2.35  or  better  shall  be  regarded  as  equal 
to  a  2.30  record. 

The  "  Trotting  Register, »  as  published  by  J.  H.  Wallace,  first 
appeared  under  his  name  in  1871,  and  horses  were  registered 
in  this  according  to  the  above  rules.  The  American  Trotting 
Register  Association  succeeded  the  National  and  Mr.  Wallace 
sold   to  it  his   Trotting  Register  as  well  as   his  Year  Book  in 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTER 


45 


which  the  annual  trotting  records  are  published.     The  present 
rules  for  registration  of  the  American  Association  are  as  follows  : 

When  an  animal  meets  these  requirements  and  is  duly  registered  it  shall 
be  accepted  as  a  standard-bred  trotter. 

i.  The  progeny  of  a  registered  standard  trotting  horse  and  a  registered 
standard  trotting  mare. 

2.  A  stallion  sired  by  a  registered  standard  trotting  horse,  provided  his 
dam  and  grandam  were  sired  by  registered  standard  trotting  horses,  and  he 


<aJw 

<M 

\ 

- 

*<i^2?^^JtoBffii  Vis 

mmwamm 

imm 

HPlf 

P/^H       7  "/  ^^i 

■kk*# 

^W^b/'L.-^Ai 

4? 

|B3^Sb| 

Fig.  14.  Dan  Patch.  The  fastest  pacer  in  history.  Holds  world's  record  of 
1.55^.  Purchased  for  $60,000  by  Mr.  M.  W.  Savage,  Minneapolis,  Min- 
nesota.   Illustration  by  courtesy  of  Mr.  Savage 

himself  has  a  trotting  record  of  2.30  and  is  the  sire  of  three  trotters  with 
records  of  2.30  from  different  mares. 

3.  A  mare  whose  sire  is  a  registered  standard  trotting  horse,  and  whose 
dam  and  grandam  were  sired  by  registered  standard  trotting  horses,  pro- 
vided she  herself  has  a  trotting  record  of  2.30  or  is  a  dam  of  one  trotter 
with  a  record  of  2.30. 

4.  A  mare  sired  by  a  registered  standard  trotting  horse,  provided  she  is 
the  dam  of  two  trotters  with  records  of  2.30. 

5.  A  mare  sired  by  a  registered  standard  trotting  horse,  provided  her  first, 
second,  and  third  dams  are  each  sired  by  a  registered  standard  trotting  horse. 


46 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


The  speed  of  the  trotter  is  the  main  factor  influencing  values, 
and  the  speed  record  of  an  animal,  or  its  relationship  to  such, 
will  essentially  affect  its  selling  price.  As  might  be  expected, 
foals  occasionally  change  hands  at  large  prices,  based  on  the 
pedigree  and  speed  records  therein.  The  speed  of  the  trotter 
has  been  constantly  improved,  until  the  end  of  1904  saw  records 
that  would  not  have  been  thought  possible  by  persons  living  a 
generation  ago.  All  of  the  standard  racing  records  have  been 
materially  changed  during  the  nineteenth  century.  The  following 
statement  shows  how  this  record  has  been  lowered  between  18 10 
and  1904,  representing  horses  in  harness  and  not  under  saddle. 


Reduction  of  Trotting  Record 


Name  of  Horse 

Place  of  Record 

Date 

Record 

Boston 

Trouble 

Sally  Miller 

Edwin  Forrest 

Dutchman 

Lady  Suffolk 

Pelham 

Highland  Maid 

Flora  Temple     .     .     .     .     . 

Flora  Temple 

Dexter 

Goldsmith  Maid     .... 
Goldsmith  Maid     .... 

Rarus 

St.  Julien 

Maud  S 

Jay-Eye-See 

Maud  S 

Sunol 

Nancy  Hanks 

Alix 

The  Abbot 

Cresceus 

Lou  Dillon 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Jamaica,  N.Y. 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Hoboken,  N.J. 
Hoboken,  N.J. 
Jamaica,  N.Y. 
Jamaica,  N.Y. 
Jamaica,  N.Y. 
Kalamazoo,  Mich. 
Buffalo,  N.Y. 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 
Boston,  Mass. 
Buffalo,  N.Y. 
Oakland,  Cal. 
Chicago,  111. 
Providence,  R.I. 
Cleveland,  Ohio 
Stockton,  Cal. 
Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
Galesburg,  111. 
Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
Columbus,  Ohio 
Readville,  Mass. 
Memphis,  Tenn. 

Aug.    25,  1810 
Oct.      3,  1826 
Nov.  21,  1834 
Oct.    16,  1838 
July    18,  1839 
Oct.    13,  1845 
July      2,  1849 
July    14,  1853 
Sept.    2,  1856 
Oct.    15,  1859 
Aug.    14,  1867 
Sept.    6,  1871 
Sept.     2,  1874 
Aug.     3»  1878 
Oct.    25,  1879 
Sept.  18,  1880 
Aug.     1,  1884 
July    30,  1885 
Oct.    20,  1891 
Sept.  28,  1892 
Sept.  19,  1894 
Sept.  26,  1900 
Aug.     2,  1901 
Aug.  24,  1903 
Oct.     24,  1903 

2 

2 
2 
2 

2 

2 
2 
2 
2 

48§ 

43l 

37 

36| 

32 

29I 

28 

27 

24i 
i9| 

i7i 

17 
14 
*3i 

I2| 

iof 

10 

o8f 
o8£ 
04 
03 1 
03 1 

02| 
00 

58I* 

*  With  wind  shield. 


THE  AMERICAN  TROTTER 


47 


Some  of  the  fastest  trotting  records  to  January  i,  1906,  are 
given  below.  There  are  numerous  standard  trotting  events,  such 
as  against  time,  in  races,  double  teams,  three  abreast,  half-mile 
track,  mile  track,  etc.  There  are  many  fastest  records,  of  which 
these  are  perhaps  of  most  interest. 


Event 

Name  of  Horse 

Date 

Record 

Half  mile 

Major  Delmar,  b.g.,  by  Del  Mar    .     . 

1904 

■59! 

One  mile 

Lou  Dillon,  ch.m.,  by  Sidney  Dillon  . 

1903 

1. 58|* 

Two  miles 

Cresceus,  ch.h.,  by  Robert  McGregor 

1902 

4.17 

Five  miles 

Zambro,  br.g.,  by  McKinney     .     .     . 

1902 

12.24 

Ten  miles 

Pascal,  blk.g.,  by  Pascarel    .... 

1893 

26.15 

Twenty  miles       .     .     . 

Capt.  McGowan,  rn.h.,  untraced   .     . 

1865 

58.25 

Fifty  miles      .... 

Ariel,  br.m.,  untraced 

1846 

3-55  40  \ 

One  hundred  miles 

Conqueror,  b.g.,  by  Latourette  Bell- 

founder    

1853 
1901 

8.55.33 

2.02* 

Fastest  stallion  .     .     . 

Cresceus,  ch.,  by  Robert  McGregor  . 

Fastest  mare  .... 

Lou  Dillon  (see  above  mile  record} 

Fastest  gelding  .     .     . 

Major  Delmar,  b.g.,  by  Del  Mar    .     . 

1903 

i-59|* 

Fastest  yearling  colt    . 

Adbell,  b.,  by  Advertiser      .... 

1894 

2.23 

Fastest  yearling  filly    . 

Pansy  McGregor,  b.,  by  Fergus 

McGregor 

1893 

2.23| 

Fastest  new  performer, 

stallion 

Kinney  Lou,  by  McKinney  .... 

I903 

2.07| 

Fastest  new  performer, 

mare 

Lou  Dillon 

1903 

1.581* 

Fastest  new  performer, 

gelding 

Lord  Derby,  b.,  by  Mambrino  King  . 

1900 

2.07 

Trotting  to  wagon,  one 

mile 

Lou  Dillon 

1903 

2.00 

Double  team,  one  mile 

The  Monk,  br.g.,  by  Chimes;  and 

Equity,  blk.g.,  by  Heir-at-Law  .     . 

1904 

2.07| 

Three  abreast      .     .     . 

Belle  Hamlin,  br.m.,  Globe,  br.g. ;  and 

Justina,  b.m 

1891 

2.14 

Important  sires  of  both  trotters  and  pacers  are  listed  in  con- 
siderable numbers.  There  is  no  great  trotter  or  pacer  of  breed- 
ing prepotency,  with  an  extended  list  of  offspring,  but  what  has 
sired  some  animals  that  were  natural  trotters  and  some  pacers. 
Most  prominent  among  the  stallions  that  have  sired  2.15  per- 

*  With  wind  shield. 


48  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

formers  up  to  January  i,  1906,  are  the  following,  selected  from 
a  list  of  about  two  thousand  :  Alcantara  2.23,  by  George  Wilkes 
2.22;  Baron  Wilkes  2.18,  by  George  Wilkes  2.22  ;  Brown  Hal 
2.12^,  by  Tom  Hal;  Chimes  2.30I,  by  Electioneer  ;  Electioneer, 
by  Hambletonian  10  ;  George  Wilkes  2.22,  by  Hambletonian  10  ; 
Happy  Medium  2.32^-,  by  Hambletonian  10;  Mc Kinney  2.11^, 
by  Alcyone  2.27;  Onward  2.25I-,  by  George  Wilkes  2.22  ;  Red 
Wilkes  2.40,  by  George  Wilkes  2.22  ;  Robert  McGregor  2.17^, 
by  Major  Edsall  2.29  ;  Simmons  2.28,  by  George  Wilkes  2.22. 

The  list  of  famous  American  trotting  or  pacing  brood  mares  is 
a  very  long  one,  there  being  over  four  thousand  of  more  or  less 
distinction  at  this  time.  Three  of  these  mares  well  deserve  to 
be  placed  at  the  head  of  this  list. 

Beautiful  Bells,  by  The  Moor,  dam  Minnehaha,  was  foaled 
in  1872.  She  was  bred  by  L.  J.  Rose  in  California,  though 
owned  at  Palo  Alto  by  Leland  Stanford,  where  she  dropped  her 
first  foal  in  1880  to  the  service  of  Electioneer.  She  produced 
trotters  of  great  merit,  either  by  Electioneer  or  his  sons.  On 
her  sire's  side  she  was  a  Pilot,  on  the  dam's  a  Mambrino. 

Green  Mountain  Maid  was  foaled  in  1862.  She  was  bred  by 
Samuel  Conklin  of  Middletown,  New  York.  Her  sire  was  Harry 
Clay,  dam  Shanghai  Mary.  She  was  a  brown  mare  with  star 
and  white  hind  ankles,  and  stood  1 5  hands  high.  At  the  Stony 
Ford  Farm  of  Charles  Backman  she  spent  most  of  the  twenty-six 
years  of  her  life,  dying  in  1888.  Her  greatest  son  was  Elec- 
tioneer, one  of  America's  most  prepotent  sires.  Green  Moun- 
tain Maid  was  the  dam  of  sixteen  foals.  In  memory  of  this  mare, 
a  red  granite  monument  was  erected  in  1889  by  Mr.  Backman, 
"on  the  spot  dedicated  to  her  worth  and  honored  by  her  dust." 

Miss  Russell,  a  gray  mare  foaled  in  1865,  bred  by  R.  A.  Alex- 
ander at  Woodburn,  Kentucky,  is  the  third  worthy.  She  was 
sired  by  Pilot  Jr.,  and  out  of  Sally  Russell  by  Boston,  and  her 
fifth  dam  was  by  the  great  imported  Thoroughbred,  Diomed. 
Miss  Russell  was  the  dam  of  eighteen  foals.  Nutwood,  by  Bel- 
mont, her  first  foal,  was  her  greatest  son,  he  siring  133  trotters 
and  3  5  pacers,  while  Maud  S.  by  Harold,  was  her  most  famous 
daughter. 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE   PACER 

The  ancestry  of  the  pacer  does  not  differ  from  that  of  the 
trotter.  The  distinguishing  difference  between  them,  if  any, 
depends  upon  the  gait.  However,  the  same  horse  may  pace  on 
one  occasion  and  trot  on  another. 

The  pace  consists  in  the  two  legs  on  one  side  being  moved 
forward  at  about  the  same  time,  thus  presenting  a  sort  of  par- 
allel movement.  The  horse  naturally  paces  when  his  body  is 
hardly  long  enough  to  permit  of  a  free  diagonal  movement  with- 
out interference  of  the  feet.    The  pace  provides  a  freer  movement. 

The  trot  consists  in  moving  forward  at  much  the  same  time 
front  and  rear  opposite  limbs,  as,  for  example,  the  left  front  leg 
and  the  right  hind  leg.  On  account  of  the  special  leg  movement, 
as  exhibited  by  the  gait,  the  pacer  is  often  referred  to  as  a  "  side 
wheeler,"  or  "racker,"  while  the  trotter  is  called  "  diagonal- 
gaited."  The  pace  involves  more  of  a  swaying  movement  than 
the  trot  and  is  much  less  popular  than  the  smoother  moving  trot. 

The  trot  and  pace  are  interchangeable,  and  numerous  race 
horses  possess  each  gait.  The  stallion  Direct,  with  a  pacing 
record  of  2.05  £,  also  had  a  trotting  record,  as  a  four-year-old,  of 
2.18^.  Brown  Hal,  a  great  pacing  sire,  also  has  a  trotting  record. 
John  R.  Gentry  2.oo|,  a  standard-bred  trotter,  is  a  very  fast  pacer 
and  a  sire  of  pacers.  Jay-Eye-See  was  first  a  trotter  at  2.10 
and  later  a  pacer  at  2.05A.  Most  horses  naturally  have  one  gait, 
but  many  of  them  are  easily  taught  the  other.  Hamilton  Busby 
states  that  he  has  seen  the  late  Robert  Bonner,  the  well-known 
light-horse  enthusiast  and  student  of  equine  form  and  foot 
ballast,  take  a  pacing  colt  and  in  a  few  minutes  change  it  to  a 
trotter  by  simply  changing  the  bearing  of  its  heels.  The  pace 
is  the  faster  gait  of  the  two,  being  regarded  as  about  three 
seconds  faster  than  the  trot. 

49 


50 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


The  conformation  of  the  pacing  horse  often  shows  a  steepness 
of  croup  and  curving  of  hocks  which  appear  to  be  more  or  less 
associated  with  the  gait,  though  not  necessarily  so.  Some  of  the 
most  famous  pacers  in  American  racing  history  have  had  this 
peculiar  conformation  which,  to  say  the  least,  is  not  beautiful. 

The  pacing  standard,  as  established  by  the  American  Trotting 
Register  Association,  is  the  same  as  the  existing  trotting  stand- 
ard. Except  that  the  word  "pacer"  is  substituted  for  the  word 
"trotter,"  the  word  " pacing"  for  the  word  "trotting,"  and  the 


Fig.  15.  Dan  R.  One  of  the  fastest  recent  pacers,  with  a  record  of  2.0 if  in 
1903,  and  credited  with  the  fastest  heat  of  that  year.  Photograph  from 
National  Stockman  and  Farmer 


speed  standard  2.25  for  2.30,  the  first  five  paragraphs  of  official 
trotting  and  pacing  standards  are  alike.  The  pacing  standard, 
however,  has  a  sixth  paragraph,  which  is  as  follows  : 

6.  The  progeny  of  a  registered  standard  trotting  horse  out  of  a  registered 
standard  pacing  mare,  or  of  a  registered  standard  pacing  horse  out  of  a 
registered  trotting  mare. 

This  last  paragraph  brings  out  the  interesting  point  in  an  offi- 
cial way,  that  the  result  of  the  union  of  a  pacer  and  trotter  may 
create  a  standard-bred  pacer. 


THE  PACER 


51 


Pacing  records  now  receive  much  attention  from  the  public, 
although  in  early  days  the  trot  was  the  greater  favorite  of  the 
two,  especially  prior  to  i860.  The  following  table  shows  how  the 
pacing  record  has  been  reduced  since  1 839. 

Reduction  of  Pacing  Record  to  January  i,   1906 


Name  of  Horsi 

Drover 

Fanny  Ellsler     .     .     .     . 

Unknown  

Pet 

Pocahontas 

Sleepy  George    .     .     .     . 

Sleepy  Tom 

Little  Brown  Jug    .     .     . 

Johnston   

Direct 

Hal  Pointer 

Mascot 

Robert  J 

John  R.  Gentry       .     .     . 

Star  Pointer 

Prince  Alert 

Dan  Patch 


Place  of  Record 


Date      Record 


New  Jersey 
Albany,  N.Y. 
New  Jersey 
Long  Island,  N.Y. 
Long  Island,  N.Y. 
Rochester,  N.Y. 
Chicago,  111. 
Hartford,  Conn. 
Chicago,  111. 
Independence,  Iowa 
Chicago,  111. 
Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
Portland,  Me. 
Readville,  Mass. 
Empire  City  Track, 
Memphis,  Tenn. 


N.Y 


1839 
1844 
1844 
1852 
1855 
1879 
1879 
1881 
1884 
1891 
1892 
1892 
1894 
1896 
1897 
1904 

1905 


28 
27| 
23 
i8| 

i7i 
i5i 

"I 

o6£ 

06 

°Si 

04 

oil 

00  i 

591 

57* 

55i* 


Some  of  the  Fastest  Pacing  Records  to  January  i,  1906 


Event 

Name  of  Horse 

Date 

Record 

Half  mile 

One  mile 

Fastest  heat,  stallion 

Fastest  heat,  gelding 

Fastest  heat,  mare     .     . 

Fastest  heat,  four-year- 
old    

One  mile  to  high  wheel  . 

One  mile  with  running 
mate 

Three  miles  to  wagon     . 

One  mile  on  half-mile 
track 

Dan  Patch,  by  Joe  Patchen       .     .     . 
Dan  Patch,  by  Joe  Patchen       .     .     . 
Star  Pointer,  by  Brown  Hal      .     .     . 
Prince  Alert,  by  Crown  Prince      .     . 
The  Broncho,  by  Stormcliffe     .     .     . 

Searchlight,  by  Dark  Night .... 
Dan  Patch  ........ 

1903 
1905 
1897 
1901 

1 90S 

1898 
1903 

1894 
1868 

I905 

.56* 

i-55l* 

2,OOi 
2. OOf 

2.031 
2.04! 

2.04|* 

i-58i 
7-53 

2.01  * 

Flying  Jib,  by  Algona 

Longfellow,  by  Red  Bill 

Dan  Patch 

*  Wind  shield  and  pace  maker  in  front. 


52 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


Money-winning  trotting  or  pacing  families.  During  1904, 
according  to  the  American  Horse  Breeder,  150  sires  were  repre- 
sented by  money-winning  performers  on  the  Grand  Circuit.  Of 
these,  128,  or  85^  per  cent,  trace  back  through  the  male  line  to 
Hambletonian  10  ;  while  71,  or  47.3  per  cent,  trace  back  to  Ham- 
bletonian's  greatest  son,  George  Wilkes,  he  having  14  sons, 
44  grandsons,  and  13  great-grandsons  among  the  winning  sires. 
These  descendants  of  George "  Wilkes  won  a  total  of  $243,682, 
or  more  than  half  of  all  the  money  won  during  the  season. 
Total  winnings  credited  to  descendants  of  Hambletonian  were 
$407,084  as  against  a  grand  total  of  $464,847. 

The  following  is  the  summary  : 


Families 

Total 
Sires 

Per  cent 

Total 
Winnings 

Per  cent 

Hambletonian  10 

Mambrino  Chief 

Tom  Hal 

Pocahontas  Boy 

Miscellaneous 

128 

9 
6 

2 

5 

85-33 
6.00 
4.00 
i-33 
3-33 

#407,084 
18,415 
31,960 

1,875 
5,513 

87.6 

3-9 

6.9 

•4 

1.2 

Total 

150 

100.00 

#464,847 

1 00.0 

The  number  of  record-making  horses  listed  among  those 
standard-bred  is  very  large  and  is  constantly  and  rapidly  in- 
creasing. At  the  close  of  the  year  1904  there  were  20,282 
trotters  in  the  2.30  list,  and  1 1,745  pacers  in  the  2.25  list. 

The  prices  paid  for  standard-bred  horses  represent  in  some 
cases  remarkable  valuations,  while  a  long  list  might  be  given  of 
animals  that  have  changed  hands  at  $10,000  or  more  each.  The 
highest  price  ever  paid  for  a  trotter  was  $125,000,  paid  by  Mr. 
J.  Malcolm  Forbes  of  Boston  for  Arion  2.07I,  by  Electioneer. 
In  1905,  at  a  sale  at  Madison  Square  Garden,  Mr.  M.  W.  Savage 
of  Minneapolis  purchased  Arion  for  $2500.  The  trotting  stallion 
Axtell  2.12,  by  William  L.,  was  purchased  by  a  company  at 
Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  for  $105,000.  Dan  Patch  1.55^,  the 
great  pacing  horse,  was  purchased  for  $60,000  by  Mr.  M.  W. 
Savage,  who  has  since  refused  $180,000  for  him.    Among  other 


THE   PACER  53 

notable  prices  paid  for  standard-bred  horses  are  the  following : 
Nancy  Hanks,  $45,000;  Sunol,  $41,000;  Maud  S.,  $40,000; 
Mascot,  $26,000. 

Successful  drivers  of  light  harness  horses  must  be  men  of 
exemplary  habits,  and  must,  in  order  to  accomplish  results, 
possess  the  keenest  knowledge  of  the  temperament  and  capacity 
of  the  horse.  Among  the  famous  drivers  of  America  may  be 
mentioned  Ed.  Geers,  Budd  Doble,  John  Splan,  Charles  Marvin, 


Fig.  16.  Elastic  Pointer,  a  pacer  with  record  of  2.06^.  A  full  brother  of  Star 
Pointer,  i-59f,  one  of  the  greatest  pacers  in  history.  Photograph  from 
National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

Alonzo  and  Alta  McDonald,  W.  J.  Andrews,  Al.  Thomas,  Chas. 
De  Ryder,  and  George  Spear.  In  1905  the  following  sums  were 
won  in  races  by  successful  drivers  :  Ed.  Geers,  $32,004  ;  Lon 
McDonald,  $27,160  ;  T.  Murphy,  $16,920  ;  Al.  Thomas,  $16,148. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE  ORLOFF  TROTTER 

This  breed  is  comparatively  unknown  in  America,  being  of 
Russian  origin  and  not  much  bred  outside  of  that  country. 

The  origin  of  the  Orlof f  dates  back  to  1 780.  Count  A.  G. 
Orloff-Tschesminsky,  from  whom  the  breed  takes  its  name,  made 
a  journey  to  Constantinople  in  1780  as  the  emissary  of  Cath- 
erine II  of  Russia.  The  Sultan  of  Turkey  sent  back  to  Russia 
a  gift  of  the  Arab  stallion  Smetanka,  an  animal  of  superior 
breeding  and  unusual  size  and  strength.  This  Arab  was  bred  to 
a  Danish  mare,  from  which  came  a  horse  foal  that  was  named 
Polkan  1st.  The  result  of  this  union,  bred  to  a  big  Dutch  mare 
known  as  a  "  Hartdraver,"  produced  another  male  foal,  which 
was  designated  Bars  1st,  which  is  regarded  as  the  first  repre- 
sentative of  the  true  Orloff  breed  of  trotters.  While  in  the 
evolution  of  the  breed  outcrosses  with  mares  have  been  made, 
the  line  of  descent  from  Bars  1st  on  the  sire's  side  has  been 
carefully  guarded. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Orloff  are  of  a  variable  nature,  as 
based  on  those  shown  in  America.  Mr.  Jacob  Heyl  thus  con- 
cisely describes  the  Orloff  : 1 

In  the  first  thirty  years  of  our  century  (nineteenth)  the  Orloff  trotters 
showed  such  pronounced  type  that  it  was  difficult  to  distinguish  one  from 
another.  The  average  height  of  the  Orloff  horse  of  to-day  is  from  15!  to 
16  hands.  To  the  casual  observer  they  hardly  give  the  impression  of  great 
quality,  —  at  least  not  such  as  would  warrant  the  presumption  of  extraordinary 
performances. 

The  head  is  small  and  clean,  the  face  wide  between  the  eyes  and  almost 
invariably  dished.  The  ears  are  small,  the  eyes  large  and  full,  though  some- 
what sleepy  when  the  horse  is  at  rest.  The  neck  is  well  connected,  but 
inclined  to  be  a  trifle  thick  in  the  throat,  arched  beautifully,  and  carried 
very  high,  rising  high  from  the  withers.    Owing  to  the  rise  of  the  withers, 

1  Breeders'  Gazette,  August  16,  1893. 
54 


THE  ORLOFF  TROTTER 


55 


the  back,  which  is  short  and  strong,  appears  slightly  swayed  and  runs  into 
broad,  full  loins.  The  croup  has  a  peculiar  rounding  and  is  somewhat 
sloping.  It  is  supplied  with  clearly  defined  layers  of  muscles,  from  which 
the  horse  derives  its  great  propelling  power.  The  shoulders  are  quite  slop- 
ing and  well  muscled  without  being  heavy.  Fore  arm  and  thigh  show  plenty 
of  muscle  and  great  length,  while  the  cannons  are  correspondingly  short, 
with  an  abundance  of  bone  below  the  knee  and  hock.  In  standing  the  legs 
are  generally  carried  well  under  the  body.    Forelock,  mane,  and  tail  show 


Fig.  17.  Oussan.  An  Orloff  trotter  shown  at  Columbian  Exposition, 
Chicago,  1893.  Commended  for  perfect  form,  size,  and  speed. 
Owned  by  the  Grand  Duke  Dimitri  of  Russia 


a  rich  growth  of  medium  fine  hair,  inclined  to  be  wavy.  A  peculiarity  is 
the  growth  of  fine,  long  hair  on  the  fetlocks,  which  seems  to  act  as  a  pro- 
tection in  deep  snow. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  Orloff  when  at  rest  is  that  of  an  animal 
of  good  size  and  substantial  build,  perhaps  a  trifle  leggy  on  account  of  the 
proportionately  small  rump  as  compared  with  shoulders  and  hind  quarters, 
and  a  faint  suggestion  of  coarseness  on  account  of  the  strong  legs  and  full 
hoofs.  The  whole  appearance  changes  wonderfully,  however,  the  moment 
the  horse  is  in  motion.  Going  up  on  the  bit,  head  carried  up  and  well  arched 
in  the  neck,  ears  pointed  and  constantly  playing,  nostrils  dilated  and  eyes 
sparkling,  he  moves  along  with  determination  and  the  precision  of  a  piece 
of  mechanism.  The  fore  legs  are  well  bent  in  the  knee,  the  feet  almost 
touching  the  elbows,  while  the  hind  legs  are  brought  forward  with  great 
power,  striking  the  ground  well  in  front  of  the  imprints  of  the  fore  feet. 


56 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


At  all  times  the  horse  seems  to  trot  within  himself  and  be  in  perfect  balance 
without  outward  aid. 

The  disposition  of  the  Orloff  is  perfect  and  his  docility  admirable  ;  he  is 
a  free,  fearless  driver.  ...  He  is  a  horse  of  great  endurance,  trotting 
mile  after  mile  without  any  apparent  fatigue. 

The  above  description  is  given  by  one  who  has  not  only 
studied  the  animals  of  this  breed  in  Russia  but  who  has  also 
imported  and  owned  them  in  America. 

There  are  apparently  several  types  of  Orloff s.  Mr.  M.  W. 
Dunham,  who  judged  this  breed  at  the  Columbian  Exposition  in 
1893,  reports  on  the  heavy  type  of  Russian  trotter,  weighing 

from  1 100  to  1 300  pounds 
and  standing  from  15!  to 
\6\  hands  high;  he  also 
reports  on  a  lighter,  finer 
sort.  Though  credited 
with  great  power  and 
speed,  some  of  the  fastest 
ones  have  degenerated 
into  a  coarseness  of  form 
not  sought  after  by 
American  buyers.  The 
lighter  type  is  criticised 
by  American  judges  as 
rather  too  long  of  back 
and  sloping  of  quarters, 
and  as  having  a  higher 
knee  action  and  less  speed  than  the  American  trotter.  They  are 
commended  as  having  great  beauty  of  head,  neck,  and  shoulders, 
and  as  possessing  much  intelligence  and  endurance,  besides  con- 
siderable speed.  Yet  they  are  too  much  like  the  American  trotter 
to  be  wanted  here. 

The  color  of  the  Orloff  is  quite  commonly  gray,  white,  or 
black,  yet  chestnuts  and  bays  occur. 

Importations  of  Orloffs  have  been  made  to  America  on  several 
occasions.  In  the  spring  of  1877  four  stallions  and  one  mare 
were  brought  over  and  sold  at  auction  on  October  13,  all  being 
bid  in  by   Lieutenant  Ismailoff  of  the  Russian  army,  at  prices 


Fig.  18.  Ouriadnik.  First-prize  Orloff  trotter 
at  Columbian  Exposition,  1893,  ^n  class  of 
six  judged  by  Mr.  M.  W.  Dunham.  Owned 
by  Russian  State  Stud 


THE  ORLOFF  TROTTER 


57 


ranging  from  $300  to  $995.  In  1890  Jacob  Heyl,  of  Wisconsin, 
imported  two  black  stallions,  and  in  1892  two  stallions  and  four 
mares.  That  same  year  F.  G.  Bourne  imported  five  stallions  and 
one  mare,  while  on  July  25,  1893,  eighteen  head  were  imported, 
for  showing  at  the  Columbian  Exposition.  On  April  10,  1902, 
after  spirited  bidding,  twenty-eight  Orloffs,  imported  by  Bergh  & 
Company,  were  sold  at  auction  in  the  American  Horse  Exchange 
for  an  average  price  of  $1243.  With  the  exception  of  one  chest- 
nut, all  of  these  were  blacks  or  grays.  The  highest  price  paid 
was  $6400  for  a  pair  of  matched  drivers. 

The  speed  of  the  Orloff  is  most  excellent,  but  not  the  equal 
of  the  American  trotter.  The  gray  Orloff,  Wzmakb,  imported 
by  Jacob  Heyl,  has  a  record  for  a  mile  in  2.27I.  In  1893  Mr.  J. 
H.  Sanders  gave  the  fastest  Russian  record  of  1.40  for  one  verst 
(3500  feet)  as  made  by  the  Orloff  trotter  Poitieshnoy,  equivalent 
to  a  mile  record  of  a  trifle  under  2.31.  In  short-distance  races 
the  record  of  the  Russian  trotter  is  inferior  to  the  American, 
but  on  long  stretches  of  three  or  more  miles  he  is  distinctly  the 
superior. 

A  cross  of  the  Orloff  and  the  American  trotter  seems  to  have 
been  attended  with  excellent  results.  In  recent  years  trotters 
have  been  taken  to  Russia  from  America,  and  the  cross-bred 
progeny  has  shown  superior  speed,  especially  where  the  dam  was 
the  Orloff.  In  fact  the  half-bred  offspring  has  shown  greater 
speed  as  a  rule  than  the  sire. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE    COACH  OR    CARRIAGE    HORSE  TYPE 

The  coach  or  carriage  horse  is  also  frequently  called  the  heavy 
harness  horse.  This  type  is  intended  for  the  special  purpose  of 
drawing  coaches  and  other  vehicles,  such  as  may  be  commonly 
seen  in  every  city  of  importance.  It  is  also  of  value  in  light 
work  where  a  larger  type  than  the  American  trotter  is  wanted. 
A  certain  size  and  conformation  generally  found  in  the  coach 
breeds  are  associated  with  this  type.  The  American  trotter  of 
the  larger  size  may,  however,  furnish  the  essentials  needed  in  a 
high-class  coach  horse. 

The  general  appearance  of  a  coach  horse  in  good  condition 
shows  smooth,  graceful  body  lines,  with  a  general  fullness  in  all 
the  parts.  The  JieigJit  should  be  about  16  hands  and  the  weight 
from  i  ioo  to  1250  pounds  for  geldings  or  mares.  Stallions  will 
usually  range  from  1250  to  1550,  according  to  breed.  In  quality 
the  coacher  should  be  superior,  showing  the  best  of  feet,  bone, 
and  hair.  Action  of  the  very  best,  high  and  strong  at  both  knee 
and  hock,  is  important,  while  graceful  carriage  is  equally  essential. 
In  general  appearance  the  best  type  of  coach  horse  shows  a  long 
arching  neck,  round  full  body,  long  level  croup,  high  carriage  of 
tail,  and  what  is  known  as  a  "  coachy  "  or  "trappy  "  action. 

The  head  of  the  coach  horse  should  be  lean,  graceful,  broad  of 
forehead,  rather  prominent  and  bright  of  eye,  deep  of  cheek, 
and  wide  and  strong  in  lower  jaw,  the  muzzle  fine  and  nostrils 
full  and  open,  the  ears  refined,  being  neither  large  nor  small, 
carried  close  and  erect,  and  turning  in  slightly  at  the  tips.  The 
head  should  indicate  quality  in  its  leanness,  intelligence  in  the 
broad,  full  forehead,  and  animation  in  brightness  of  eye  and  car- 
riage of  ear  and  head  in  general.  A  smooth,  neat  attachment 
of  head  to  neck  is  highly  essential,  a  fullness  at  the  throat  and 
about  the  windpipe  being  most  undesirable. 

53 


THE  COACH  OR  CARRIAGE  HORSE  TYPE 


59 


The  neck  of  the  coach  horse  in  its  best  development  may 
appear  somewhat  long,  is  gracefully  arched,  and  shows  a  smooth. 
full,  muscular  development,  yet  is  entirely  free  from  thickness 
of  draft-horse  character.  A  ewe  neck  is  out  of  place  in  this 
class.  Much  of  the  style  and  symmetry  of  the  coach  horse  at 
rest  is  seen  in  the  carriage  and  make-up  of  head  and  neck.  In 
its  attachment  to  the  body  the  neck  should  blend  smoothly. 

The  chest  of  the  coach  horse  calls  for  neither  the  thickness  of 
the  draft  horse  nor  the  narrowness  of  the  Thoroughbred,  but  for 
a  happy  medium.  It  should  be  deep,  and  the  breast  should  be 
carried  out  with  some  prominence.  Too  broad  a  chest  prevents 
•an  open,  free  action. 

The  sJwuldcrs  of  the  coach  horse  are  long  and  oblique,  sloping 
well  into  the  back,  with  withers  medium  prominent  and  refined. 
A  steep  shoulder  prevents  a  strong,  rapid  gait  and  promotes 
hard  action,  leading  to  defects  of  feet  and  legs.  High  or  free 
knee  action  is  dependent  on  a  long,  well-laid,  muscular  shoulder. 
The  long  shoulder,  the  short  back,  and  the  long  underline  are 
features  associated  with  the  best  development. 

The  body  of  the  coach  horse  should  be  round,  short  on  top 
and  long  below,  the  ribs  being  long  and  well  arched  and  the 
back  and  loin  covered  smoothly  with  strong,  thick  muscle.  The 
loin  in  particular  calls  for  strength,  as  indicated  in  levelness, 
breadth,  and  thickness.  Depth  of  body  at  both  front  and  hind 
flanks  is  desirable,  with  not  too  much  prominence  and  over- 
shadowing of  hips. 

The  croup  of  the  coach  horse  furnishes  the  power  at  the  hind 
end.  It  should  be  long,  broad,  carried  high,  and  thickly  muscled. 
A  steep,  short  croup  is  inconsistent  with  a  beautiful  coacher. 
The  tail  should  have  a  high  attachment,  and  should  be  carried 
with  style  and  elevation. 

The  thighs  and  quarters  of  the  coach  horse  must  be  muscular 
and  plump,  furnishing  fullness  of  outline.  The  muscle  of  the 
thighs  at  the  quarters  must  be  thick  and  deep,  giving  fullness 
to  the  hind  end.  The  gaskin,  or  lower  thigh,  should  be  strongly 
muscled  and  long. 

The  hocks  of  the  coach  horse,  viewed  from  one  side,  should 
be  deep  from  front  to  rear ;  the  front  should  be  broad  and  the 


6o 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


rear  thin,  the  entire  joint  being  lean  and  smooth,  with  no  puffi- 
ness  or  coarseness.  The  action  so  essential  in  a  coach  horse  can 
only  be  found  in  a  normal,  smooth,  and  strong  hock. 

The  legs  of  the  coach  horse,  as  a  whole,  must  show  cleanness, 
good  bone,  and  plenty  of  muscle.  The  arm  must  be  short,  broad, 
and  flat,  with  great  muscle  development.  The  elbows  should 
stand  out  showing  room  between  the  legs  and  chest,  indicating 
easy  moving  power.  If  the  elbow  is  too  close  to  allow  the  easy 
insertion  of  the  hand  between  that  and  the  body,  the  legs  will  not 


Fig.  19.  Glorious  Red  Cloud.  A  nearly  perfect  specimen  of  a  standard-bred 
American  trotter  in  heavy  harness  as  a  coach  horse.  Owned  by  Thomas 
W.  Lawson  of  Boston,  Massachusetts.  Photograph  by  Schreiber  from 
National  Stockman  and  Farmer 


stand  straight  and  the  front  toes  will  turn  out,  while  if  the  elbow 
is  too  far  from  the  body,  the  opposite  result  will  obtain,  in  either 
case  giving  an  awkward  movement.  The  fore  arm  should  be  very 
long  and  strongly  muscled,  wide  at  top,  and  tapering  gracefully 
downward.  The  knee  in  its  strength  is  broad  in  front  and  narrow 
behind,  is  full  and  prominent,  and  strongly  attached  both  above 
and  below.  Sometimes  the  knees  come  too  close  together,  often 
they  are  crooked,  and  occasionally  they  project  too  far  over  the 
cannon  bones.    The  cannons,  both  front  and  rear,  should  be  flat, 


THE  COACH  OR  CARRIAGE  HORSE  TYPE  6 1 

smooth,  short,  and  strongly  attached  above  and  below.  The  ten- 
dons which  pass  along  behind  should  stand  out  clear  and  strong, 
thus  giving  depth  to  the  leg  at  this  point.  As  the  hand  is  passed 
down  over  the  cannons  no  unnecessary  roughness  should  be 
felt.  Under  both  knee  and  hock  the  cannons  should  be  deep, 
showing  a  strong  attachment  at  these  joints.  The  fetlock  should 
be  strong  and  placed  straight  and  should  be  free  from  fleshiness. 
The  pasterns  should  stand  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees  with 
the  floor,  and  be  long,  smooth,  and  springy.  As  the  horse  stands 
naturally  the  pasterns  should  be  well  sustained,  with  no  tend- 
ency to  drop  low  and  appear  weak.  If  the  pastern  is  short  or 
straight,  an  easy  gait  cannot  be  assumed  and  the  conditions  pro- 
mote foot  and  leg  diseases.  A  correct  pastern  at  45  degrees 
allows  the  proper  placing  of  the  foot,  the  frog  striking  first  with 
the  resulting  jar  or  concussion  less  than  it  would  be  otherwise. 
The  feet  are  most  important,  and  a  capable  judge  of  the  horse 
will  give  them  almost  a  first  consideration.  These  should  be  of 
suitable  size,  round,  wide  at  top,  well  developed  at  heel,  and  pref- 
erably of  dark,  hard  bone.  Ample  size  is  important,  for  a  small 
foot  in  the  horse  presages  trouble.  The  hind  part,  or  heel,  should 
be  wide  and  of  reasonable  depth,  a  low  heel  and  flat  foot  being 
associated  with  poor  feet.  The  bottom  of  the  foot,  or  sole, 
should  be  concave  and  well  arched.  In  a  well-formed  foot  the 
frog  should  be  wide  at  the  heel,  be  strongly  developed,  and 
just  touch  the  ground  when  the  horse  is  at  rest.  Passing  about 
the  frog  in  a  continuation  of  the  wall  of  the  hoof  from  behind 
is  the  bar  of  the  foot.  This  bar  helps  to  hold  the  sole  of  the 
foot  together,  and  should  be  strong  and  show  character.  The 
front  feet  are  usually  rounder  than  the  hind,  and  they  are  also 
more  subject  to  injury  and  are  more  commonly  defective  than 
the  hind  feet.    # 

The  proper  position  of  the  legs  of  the  horse  when  at  rest  may 
be  noted  as  follows :  Front  leg.  A  plumb  line  dropped  from  point 
of  shoulders  will  bisect  the  knee,  cannon,  pastern,  and  foot, 
viewed  from  the  front.  From  the  side,  dropped  from  the  center 
of  the  arm  at  the  lower  part  of  the  body,  such  a  line  should 
about  divide  the  leg  to  the  fetlock  joint,  and  then,  passing  to 
the  ground,  should  just  touch  the  back  part  of  the  foot.     Hind 


62  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

leg.  From  the  rear,  a  plumb  line  dropped  from  point  of  croup 
or  buttock  will  pass  the  center  of  hock,  cannon,  pastern,  and 
foot.  Viewed  from  the  side,  if  dropped  from  point  of  croup  or 
buttock,  it  should  touch  the  point  of  hock  and  pass  along  close 
against  the  back  edge  of  the  cannon  and  parallel  with  it. 

Action  in  the  coach  horse  is  an  absolute  requirement.  People 
vary  in  the  degree  to  which  they  desire  this.  The  lover  of  the 
Hackney  desires  a  rather  high,  bold  knee  action  of  a  flashy  sort, 
with  a  notable  elevation  of  the  foot  at  its  highest  point.  The 
hind  legs  have  a  powerful  movement,  the  hocks  are  strongly 
bent  or  flexed,  and  the  legs  are  carried  well  up  under  the  body. 
This  is  what  is  known  as  a  "  trappy  gait,"  and  such  a  horse  is  a 
"  high  stepper."  The  coach  horse  possessing  such  a  movement 
is  in  great  demand  in  the  horse  market,  and  brings  the  highest 
price,  other  things  being  equal.  Such  a  gait  is  not  consistent 
with  the  best  speed,  and  wise  lovers  of  the  horse  prefer  less 
high  action  and  more  reach  and  power.  Further,  with  high  knee 
action  comes  a  greater  concussion  to  limbs  and  feet,  and  conse- 
quently greater  punishment  and  more  rapid  wearing  out  of  the 
horse  than  would  otherwise  be  the  case.  Especially  is  this  true 
on  the  city  pavement.  Trueness  of  action  is  essential,  whether 
a  high  stepper  or  not,  the  legs  being  carried  forward  in  the  same 
general  line  and  the  feet  moved  neither  in  nor  out.  The  hocks 
should  be  firm  and  not  show  weakness,  as  springing  wide  apart 
when  in  action,  and  the  feet  should  be  held  true,  neither  turning 
in  nor  out  at  the  toes.  When  either  at  walk  or  trot  the  horse 
should  pass  from  or  come  toward  the  judge  on  the  same  true 
line,  without  sidewise  gait,  dragging  feet,  paddling,  clicking,  etc. 
Straight  and  regular  movement  should  be  sought  for.  Ordinarily 
a  coach  horse  is  expected  to  have  a  speed  of  about  eight  or  ten 
miles  an  hour. 

Sub-classes  of  coach  horses.  On  account  of  the  requirements 
of  city  trade  in  particular,  in  relation  to  the  size  and  use  of  vari- 
ous vehicles,  the  coach  horse  is  divided  into  groups.  This  classi- 
fication only  occurs,  however,  in  the  important  horse  shows  and 
in  the  exclusive  trade  of  the  city  dealer.  Pure-bred  coach  horses, 
as  a  rule,  do  not  come  within  these  sub-classes  when  of  the  smaller 
type,  though  the  Hackney  may  furnish  an  exception. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  HACKNEY 

The  word  "  Hackney* '  has  long  been  in  use  in  Great  Britain.  The 
Norman  invaders  in  the  eleventh  century  brought  from  France 
the  term  Haquenee  or  Hacquenee,  which  is  derived  from  the 
Latin  equus,  horse.  As  early  as  1 303  this  word  is  said  to  have 
come  into  active  use.  This  same  century  Chaucer  in  his  writings 
refers  to  the  hakeney  or  hacknay,  spelling  it  both  ways.  Prior  to 
the  eleventh  century  it  is  supposed  that  the  word  "nag"  (from  the 
Anglo-Saxon  knegan,  neigh)  was  the  common  term  in  reference 
to  the  saddle  horse  of  light  type.  Since  those  early  days  the 
words  "nag"  and  "Hackney  "  have  been  in  common  use. 

The  early  British  home  of  the  Hackney  was  mainly  located  in 
eastern  and  northeastern  England,  in  the  counties  of  Suffolk, 
Norfolk,  and  York.  The  people  in  this  region  have  for  centuries 
greatly  patronized  the  saddle  horse  or  roadster.  In  the  fifteenth 
century  trotting  horses  were  highly  esteemed,  and  one  of  the 
family  of  Berney  in  Norfolk  placed  on  one  of  his  horses  an  esti- 
mate equivalent  to  $350. 

The  original  Hackney  stock  was  subjected  to  variable  influences. 
The  Romans  no  doubt  introduced  horses  from  southern  Europe, 
and  these  must  have  bred  with  the  native  English  stock.  Fol- 
lowing them  came  Scandinavian  intruders,  and  it  is  assumed  that 
Norwegian  ponies  were  used  in  the  mixture,  giving  British  horse 
stock  both  speed  and  endurance.  The  abundance  of  trotting 
horses  in  sections  occupied  by  Danish  settlers  would  indicate 
the  popularity  of  this  type.  Besides  the  commingling  of  different 
strains  of  blood,  some  enactments  on  horse  breeding  and  develop- 
ment took  place  by  royal  decree  as  far  back  as  1495,  when  Henry 
VIII  was  on  the  throne.  In  1558  Ralph  Blundeville,  of  Norfolk, 
produced  the  first  English  book  on  the  horse,  which  he  designated, 
The  Foure  Chief  est  Offices  belonging  to  Horsemanship. 

63  *" 


64 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


The  active  development  of  Hackneys  really  began  in  the  eight- 
eenth century.  In  Norfolk  there  frequently  appeared  in  the 
papers  advertisements  regarding  horses  for  sale  or  breeding 
purposes,  various  animals  being  named  specifically.  These  state- 
ments showed  the  use  of  Arabian,  Barb,  and  Turkish  stallions 


Fig.  20.  Royal  Danegelt  (5785),  by  Danegelt  (174).  One  of  the  most 
famous  Hackney  show  horses  and  sires  of  England  in  recent  years 
Owned  and  bred  by  Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  Bart.,  England.  Photograph 
from  Sir  Walter  Gilbey 

on  Norfolk  mares.  Undoubtedly  the  road  horses  of  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk  were  much  appreciated  for  speed,  and  any  blood 
that  would  contribute  to  this  purpose  and  not  injure  stamina 
was  used.  Thus  the  Thoroughbred  also  played  a  part  in  early 
Hackney  development. 

The  important  evolution  of  the  Hackney  probably  began  with 
a  horse  known  under  a  variety  of  names,  viz.  Schales,  Shales, 
The  Original  Shales,  and  Shields.  This  stallion  was  foaled  in 
1755  and  was  probably  sired  by  Blaze,  a  son  of  Flying  Childers. 
In  the  breeding  of  this  horse,  registered  in  the  first  volume  of 


THE  HACKNEY 


65 


the  English  Hackney  Studbook  as  The  Original  Shales  (699), 
occurs  Arabian,  Turk,  and  Barb  blood.  He  is  but  four  genera- 
tions from  the  Darley  Arabian.  The  Original  Shales  sired  among 
others  one  son,  Scot  Shales  (692),  and  he  proved  a  great  breeder, 
although  not  famous  for  speed.  He  was  famous  for  getting 
"good  stock  out  of  common  mares."  In  1782  he  was  "justly 
esteemed  the  best  stallion  known  to  get  good  road  horses." 
The  Original  Shales  was  also  sire  of  Driver  (187)  that  proved 
a  great  breeder.  Coming  along  after  these,  as  important  factors 
in  Hackney  development  and  history,  were  the  following :  Fire- 
away  (201)  (Jenkinson's),  foaled  in  1780;  Fireaway  (203)  (West's); 
Fireaway  (211)  (Flanders);  Pretender  (596)  (Wroot's);  Fireaway 


Fig.  21.  Lord  Denby  II,  a  Hackney  stallion  that  has  sired  some  of  the 
choice  show  horses  of  the  breed.  Owned  by  Eben  D.  Jordan,  Boston, 
Massachusetts.    Photograph  from  Mr.  Jordan 


(208)  (Burgess);  Bellfounder  (52)  (Steven's);  Bellfounder  (55) 
(Jary's),  imported  to  America  in  1822  ;  Wildfire  (864)  (Rams- 
dale's)  ;  The  Norfolk  Cob  (475) ;  The  Norfolk  Phenomenon  (522) ; 
Phenomenon  (573)   (Ramsdale's)  foaled  in    1835  ;    Sir   Charles 


66  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

(Beal's  768),  foaled  in  1843  \  Denmark  (Bourdas'  177),  foaled  in 
1862  ;  Danegelt  (174),  foaled  in  1879,  and  died  in  1894.  During 
the  past  fifty  years  the  blood  of  Denmark  and  Danegelt  has  been 
most  potent  in  Hackney  history.  Perhaps  the  five  sires  of  most 
importance  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century  were 
Lord  Derby  2d,  Bourdas'  Denmark,  Triffitt's  Fireaway,  D'Oyley's 
Confidence,  and  Danegelt. 

Speed  and  endurance  have  always  been  important  Hackney 
characteristics.  Driver  (187)  is  said  to  have  trotted  17  miles  in 
one  hour,  while  Fireaway  (201),  old  advertisements  state,  made 
2  miles  on  the  road  in  5  minutes.  The  Norfolk  Cob  is  said  to  have 
trotted  24  miles  in  one  hour.  The  famous  mare  Phenomena,  in 
June,  1800,  at  twelve  years  of  age,  trotted  17  miles  on  the  Hunt- 
ingdon road  in  56  minutes,  and  again  in  July  in  less  than  53 
minutes.  In  181 1,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  she  trotted 
9  miles  in  28  minutes  30  seconds.  The  Hackney  in  early  days 
was  ridden  to  the  saddle  and  so  carried  loads,  often  of  weight 
approximating  200  pounds.  During  hot  July  weather,  John  A. 
Logan,  Jr.,  drove  a  pair  of  Hackney  mares,  hitched  to  a  two- 
seated  buckboard,  94  miles  in  two  days  along  the  Hudson 
River  and  made  the  last   23  miles  in  1  hour  and  53  minutes. 

The  Hackney  in  America  dates  back  to  1822,  when  James 
Booth,  of  Boston,  imported  from  Liverpool,  Bellfounder  (55) 
(Jary's),  commonly  known  as  Imported  Bellfounder.  He  was 
sired  by  Bellfounder  (52),  with  Pretender  (596)  for  grandsire,  and 
out  of  a  mare  named  Velocity.  The  Bellfounclers  proved  ani- 
mals of  great  speed  and  endurance,  tracing  back  from  the 
original  Fireaways.  Bellfounder  was  the  sire  of  the  Kent  mare, 
the  dam  of  Hambletonian  10.  The  great  speed  in  the  Ham- 
bletonian  family  of  trotters  may  justly  be  regarded  as  tracing 
through  the  Bellfounder  lineage. 

It  is  believed  that  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  imported  to 
Canada  in  1830  an  English  Hackney  named  Fireaway,  but  for 
years  no  importations  of  this  breed  other  than  these  two  came 
to  America,  and  they  were  not  brought  over  as  Hackneys.  In 
1 88 1  M.  H.  Cochrane  of  Hillhurst,  Canada,  brought  an  impor- 
tation to  Canada  from  England,  having  among  others  a  fine 
stallion  named  Fordham,  by  Denmark  177.    The  first  Hackney 


THE  HACKNEY 


67 


stud  founded  in  the  United  States  was  established  by  A.  J.  Cas- 
satt  of  Philadelphia.  In  the  spring  of  1883  he  imported  the 
stallion  Little  Wonder  and  the  mares  Patience  and  Buttercup, 
having  previously  brought  over  the  mare  Stella  by  Confidence 
158.  Little  Wonder  was  exhibited  in  1883,  and  later  proved 
to  be  a  breeder  of  much  excellence.  Other  importations  were 
as  follows:  Prescott  Lawrence,  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  1884; 
J.  B.   Perkins,   Cleveland,   Ohio,   1887;    Henry   Fairfax,  Aldie, 


Fig.  22.  Kirkburn  Sensation  (8533).  Champion  Hackney  stallion  at  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show,  1904,  and  first  and  junior  cham- 
pion at  London  Hackney  Horse  Society  Show,  1904.  Owned  by  Sir 
Walter  Gilbey,  Bart.  Photograph  from  Wm.  Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berk- 
hamsted,  England 


Virginia,  1888  ;  John  A.  Logan,  Youngstown,  Ohio,  1888  ;  Gal- 
braith  Bros.,  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  J.  H.  Truman  &  Son,  Bush- 
nell,  Illinois,  Powell  Bros.,  Springboro,  Pennsylvania,  and  some 
others,  1889.  In  1890  Dr.  Seward  Webb,  Shelburne  Farms, 
Vermont,  made  an  importation  of  twenty-seven  mares  and  four 
stallions,  the  most  important  consignment  up  to  this  time.  Since 
then  many  Hackneys  have  been  brought  to  the  United  States 
from   England.     Among  more  recent  importers,  F.  C.  Stevens, 


68  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Attica,  New  York,  Eben  D.  Jordan,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and 
Robert  Beith,  Bowmanville,  Ontario,  Canada,  are  perhaps  best 
known. 

Hackney  characteristics  are  especially  shown  in  conformation 
and  gait.  The  type  of  this  breed  is  usually  associated  with  the 
horse  full  of  breast,  short  of  back,  long,  level,  and  broad  of  rump, 
deep  of  rib,  short  of  leg,  with  a  carriage  of  head  and  neck  of 
the  coachiest  type.    The  Hackney  may  perhaps  be  regarded  as 


Fig.  23.  Fandango  2d  373.  A  fine  type  of  Hackney  stallion.  First  at  Boston 
Horse  Show  and  New  York  Open  Air  Show  in  1899  and  a  winner  at  other 
exhibitions  since.  Owned  by  F.  C.  Stevens,  Attica,  New  York.  Photo- 
graph from  owner 

blockier  of  form  than  other  coach  breeds  of  cob-like  character. 
Mr.  Henry  F.  Euren  states  that  the  general  description  of  the 
Hackney  which  fitted  both  old  style  and  new  ideal  is  in  brief 
this:  "A  powerfully  built,  short-legged,  big,  broad  horse,  with 
an  intelligent  head,  neat  neck,  strong,  level  back,  powerful  loins, 
and  as  perfect  shoulders  as  can  be  produced." 

While  Hackney  breeders  desire  a  height  ranging  from  15^  to 
1 5 1  hands,  this  breed  shows  quite  a  variation  in  height.    In  1885 


THE  HACKNEY 


69 


the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England,  at  the  request  of 
the  Hackney  Studbook  Society,  increased  the  standard  height 
for  the  breed  to  15^  hands,  and  the  class  was  well  filled.  There 
are  Hackney  ponies  under  14  hands,  Hackney  cobs  larger  than 
ponies,  and  Hackney  coachers  over  16  hands. 

The  gait  of  the  Hackney  originally  had  its  chief  value  in  a  long, 
strong  trot  for  road  work.  With  the  evolution  of  years  the  fashion 
of  modern  times  called  for  the  high  stepper  with  extravagant 
action.  The  horse  Confidence  158  (English  studbook)  was  the 
sire  of  many  horses  of  this  type  of  gait,  and,  as  some  think,  to 
the  detriment  of  the  breed,  though  "the  get  of  Confidence  yielded 
a  larger  total  profit  than  any  other  horse  of  his  day."  While  the 
fancy  city  trade  desires  matched  pairs  with  very  high  action,  this 
is  inconsistent  with  the  most  graceful  or  forceful  movement.  The 
ideal  Hackney  has  a  perfect  walk,  and  a  trot  associated  with 
a  powerful  stride.  The  feet  are  carried  clear  and  full  from  the 
ground  and  are  strongly  and  actively  raised  at  the  knee,  while 
the  hock  is  carried  forward  under  the  body  with  much  grace, 
strength,  and  action. 

The  soundness  of  this  breed  has  been  much  emphasized.  At 
the  first  show  of  Hackneys  held  in  Agricultural  Hall,  London, 
in  1885,  it  is  said  that  over  twenty  stallions  from  four  to  sixteen 
years  old  were  selected  by  the  judges  as  absolutely  sound.  For 
some  years  the  English  Hackney  Society,  in  its  shows,  has  had 
the  horses  on  exhibition  examined  for  soundness,  and  the  animals 
have  had  to  undergo  a  veterinary  examination  before  being  sub- 
mitted to  the  judges.  The  following  figures  show  the  results  of 
examinations  for  five  different  years. 


Exhibition  of 

Horses  Examined 

Rejected 

Per  cent  Rejected 

1896 

396 

17 

4.20 

1897 

438 

23 

547 

1898 

436 

21 

4.80 

1903 

422 

21 

4-97 

1904 

416 

24 

576 

The  color  of  the  Hackney  varies,  but  chestnuts  at  present 
seem  in  great  favor.  Bays  and  browns  always  have  been  popu- 
lar and  common,  while  black,  roan,  buckskin,  and  sorrel  occur 


7o 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


occasionally.    White  markings  also  occur,  as  a  blaze  face  or  star, 
a  white  foot  or  pastern,  or  lower  part  of  leg. 

Half-bred  or  grade  Hackneys  have  become  more  or  less 
popular  in  both  America  and  Great  Britain,  while  in  France 
Hackney  stallions  have  had  much  influence.  A  study  of  pedi- 
grees will  show  an  important  relationship  of  Norfolk  Hackney 
blood  in  building  up  the  French  Coach,  and  the  French  have 


Fig.  24.  Hildred,  a  very  perfect  type  of  a  Hackney  mare,  imported  and 
owned  by  Eben  D.  Jordan  of  Boston.  This  mare  in  recent  years  has 
been  a  notable  prize  winner  and  favorite  in  American  horse  shows. 
Photograph  from  Mr.  Jordan 


not  been  backward  in  using  the  Hackney  for  cross-breeding. 
In  America  Hackney  stallions  have  been  mainly  used  in  the 
more  eastern  states.  Mr.  Henry  Fairfax  of  Virginia  has  used 
Hackney  stallions  on  common  farm  mares  with  much  success, 
and  grades  of  this  breeding  have  been  successfully  exhibited. 
Some  years  ago  the  late  John  A.  Logan,  Jr.,  had  an  extensive 
Hackney  stud  at  Youngstown,  Ohio,  where  he  had  about  fifty 


THE  HACKNEY 


71 


racing  mares.  He  selected  twenty-five  as  near  types  of  their 
respective  families  as  possible,  including  two  Thoroughbreds,  and 
bred  to  them  a  Hackney  stallion,  from  which  he  obtained  twenty- 
three  live  foals.  This  Hackney  stallion  also  was  bred  to  about 
thirty  other  mares  in  the  vicinity,  including  several  grade  Per- 
cherons,  two  Clydesdales,  and  the  balance  mainly  ordinary  farm 
work  mares.  From  fifty-six  mares  fifty-two  live  foals  were 
obtained,  not  one  of  which  was  blemished  or  crooked.  Says 
Mr.  Logan:  "Every  colt  I  have  ever  seen  (and  I  think  I  have 
seen  them  all)  has  a  wonderfully  short  back,  round  well-developed 
quarters,  short  flat  legs,  with  a  great  amount  of  bone  and  sub- 
stance. A  stranger  can  pick  them  out  from  any  number  of  others 
of  different  breeds  almost  at  a  glance."  The  result  of  this  cross 
gave  the  greatest  satisfaction,  producing  horses  with  substance, 
style,  finish,  and  a  high-class  carriage  gait. 

The  distribution  of  the  Hackney  is  more  widespread  than  that 
of  any  other  coach-horse  breed.  It  is  generally  found  in  the  east- 
ern and  north  central  United  States,  Pennsylvania,  New  York, 
Massachusetts,  and  Illinois  being  breeding  centers.  It  is  also 
found  almost  all  over  the  world.  In  1903  horses  were  exported 
from  England  to  Africa,  Australia,  Belgium,  Argentine,  Canada, 
Denmark,  France,  Germany,  Holland,  Italy,  Japan,  New  Zealand, 
Spain,  and  the  United  States. 

The  English  Hackney  Horse  Society  was  established  in  1883, 
and  published  the  first  volume  of  its  studbook  in  1884.  Up  to 
1905  this  society  has  published  twenty-two  studbooks  and  has 
registered  9076  stallions  and  1 7,074  mares. 

The  American  Hackney  Horse  Society  was  organized  in  1891, 
and  Volume  I  of  the  studbook  appeared  in  1893.  Since  then,, 
up  to  1905,  but  one  other  volume  has  been  issued. 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  FRENCH  COACH 

Early  French  horse  history.  The  horse  has  been  known  in 
France  since  prehistoric  times,  and  the  remains  of  horses  have 
been  found  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  country  in  large  numbers. 
These  were  associated  with  the  Stone  Age.  Just  when  the  horse 
first  became  domesticated  in  France  is  unknown.  He  may  have 
been  used  in  a  measure  by  the  early  people  of  the  country,  both 
for  food  and  labor.  Several  hundred  years  prior  to  the  time  of 
Christ  horses  were  used  in  Gaul  for  military  purposes. 

Horse  racing  in  France  dates  back  several  centuries.  It  is  said 
that  racing  was  practiced  in  1323  under  Charles  le  Bel  and  even 
earlier.  Systematic  attempts  to  improve  the  racing  horse  began 
during  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Colbert,  one  of  the  ministers  of  Louis  XIV, 
founded  the  "Administration  des  Haras."1  During  these  early 
days  more  or  less  horse  racing  was  engaged  in,  but  in  no 
persistent  form.  Between  1775  and  1790  French  horses  were 
taken  to  England  and  raced  on  the  turf  by  French  owners.  The 
French  saw  the  merit  of  the  English  Thoroughbred,  and  along 
in  this  period  they  began  to  buy  and  send  them  to  France  for 
both  breeding  and  racing  purposes.  Several  of  the  sires  taken 
to  France  in  and  about  1776  became  famous,  as,  for  example, 
Comus  by  Otho,  Glowworm  by  Eclipse,  King  Pepin  by  Turf, 
and  Pyrois  by  Matchem.  Some  mares  were  also  taken  across 
the  Channel. 

Very  early  in  the  nineteenth  century  Napoleon  the  Great 
undertook  to  promote  the  development  of  the  horse,  though  he 
had  in  view  the  army  service  as  well  as  use  on  the  turf. 

The  French  Jockey  Club  was  organized  in  1833,  and  with  it 
came  the  first  real  influential  development  of  the  light  horse  in 

1  Administration  of  Studs. 
72 


THE  FRENCH   COACH 


73 


France.  This  club  was  aristocratic,  wealthy,  and  influential,  and 
began  to  promote  racing  and  breeding.  Since  that  time  the  gov- 
ernment haras,  the  Jockey  Club,  and  horse-breeding  societies  have 
done  much  to  improve  the  horse  of  France. 

Origin  of  the  French  Coach  horse.  The  term  "  French  Coach  " 
is  an  American  one,  there  being  no  breed  of  that  name  in  France. 
The  type  of  horse  that  we  know  by  this  name  in  America  is  termed 
Demi-Sang  in  France,  meaning  half-blood.  These  horses  when 
descended  from  Eng- 
lish sires  and  mares 
of  Normandy  have 
been  called  Anglo- 
Normans  and  are  often 
referred  to  as  such. 

Besides  the  Thor- 
oughbred, there  were 
introduced  into  France 
Hackneys  and  Nor- 
folk trotters  from 
England  and  Arabs 
and  other  horses  from 
the  Orient.  Descend- 
ants of  the  great 
Hackney  stallion 
Phenomenon  were 
taken  to  France  and 
used  in  the  studs  with 
much  benefit.  Evi- 
dence before  the  Irish 
Commissioners  of  Horse  Breeding  showed  that  during  the  last 
quarter  of  the  past  century  from  twenty  to  thirty  Hackney  stal- 
lions a  year  were  bought  in  England  for  the  French  haras,  on 
government  orders.  These,  however,  have  not  as  a  rule  gone 
into  those  sections  drawn  upon  for  carriage  horses  for  the 
American  trade. 

The  leading  source  of  French  Coach  stock  has  been  in  a  famous 
horse  region  in  a  district  west  of  Paris,  extending  to  the  seashore, 
notably  in  the  counties  or  departments  of  Calvados,  Orne,  and 


Fig.  25.  Apropos  3445,  a  French  Coach  stallion  im- 
ported by  McLaughlin  Bros.,  Columbus,  Ohio,  in 
1903.  Grand  champion  at  American  Royal  at 
Kansas  City  in  1904,  and  at  International  Live 
Stock  Exposition,  Chicago,  in  1905.  Photograph 
by  author 


74 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


La  Manche,  in  that  section  of  France  known  as  Normandy.  Here 
was  early  felt  the  influence  of  the  race  course,  and  it  was  found 
that  by  using  English  sires  to  the  Normandy  mares  a  certain 
degree  of  coarseness  and  plainness  was  removed,  while  there  was 
an  increase  in  speed  and  quality.    There  was  much  experimental 

breeding,  resulting  in  con- 
siderable variation  in  the 
beginning.  English  horses 
were  used  to  a  consider- 
able extent  in  the  early 
development,  but  since 
1840  French-bred  horses 
have  been  used  almost 
exclusively. 

The  coach  or  carriage 
horse  of  France  is  derived 
from  trotter  stock.  The 
purpose  of  breeding  fast 
horses,  capable  of  per- 
forming hard  work,  was 
clearly  in  the  minds  of  the 
French  people.  The  pedigrees  of  the  best  of  French  Coach  horses 
trace  back  through  lines  of  descent  into  the  blood  of  English 
Thoroughbreds,  Hackney  and  Norfolk  trotters,  Arabs,  etc.  For 
example,  the  stallion  Niger,  foaled  in  1869,  had  Norfolk  Phe- 
nomenon for  sire  and  Miss  Bell,  a  half-blood  American  mare,  for 
dam.  He  was  used  in  the  national  haras  and  became  a  very 
famous  sire.  The  stallion  Tigris  is  three  generations  removed 
from  the  English  Thoroughbred,  The  Heir  of  Linne,  imported 
to  the  national  haras  at  Tarbes,  in  1859,  a  stallion  that  made 
a  strong  impression  on  the  Demi-Sang.  Another  interesting 
phase  of  the  influence  of  foreign  blood  is  shown  in  the  stallion 
Aemulus,  foaled  in  1871,  sired  by  Mambrino  Pilot  and  out  of 
Black  Bess.  He  was  a  prize  winner  on  the  American  turf  between 
1876  and  1880,  but  was  taken  to  France  in  1881  and  placed  in 
the  haras  of  Colaincourt  (Aisne),  where  he  rendered  good  service. 
Aemulus  was  a  combination  of  Mambrino  blood  on  the  sire's  side 
and  Morgan  on  the  dam's.     Conquerant,  foaled  in  1858,  another 


Fig.  26.  Harley,  a  prominent  French  Coach 
sire  in  service  in  France.  Photograph  by 
James  B.  McLaughlin,  Columbus,  Ohio 


THE  FRENCH  COACH 


75 


famous  Demi-Sang  stallion  that  proved  to  be  a  remarkable  breeder, 
being  in  service  at  the  national  haras  at  Le  Pin  from  1862  to 
1880,  had  Thoroughbred  blood  on  both  sire  and  dam  sides  four 
generations  back.  The  famous  stallion  Indre  385,  imported  by  the 
late  M.  W.  Dunham,  foaled  in  1886  and  still  alive  in  1905,  was 
a  grandson  of  The  Heir  of  Linne  on  the  sire's  side  and  great- 
grandson  of  Conquerant  on  the  dam's  side.  The  stallion  Young 
Rattler,  bred  in  England  but  in  service  in  Normandy  from  1820 
to  1834,  proved  to  have  a  most  important  influence  on  the  French 
turf.  These  examples  suffice  to  show  the  influence  of  foreign 
horses  on  the  mares  of  France  in  developing  the  Demi-Sang.  In 
recent  years  it  is  claimed  that  the  breeding  has  been  restricted 
to  French  blood  entirely. 

Methods  of  the  French  to  promote  horse  improvement.  It  is 
appropriate  to  give  here  in  some  detail  the  methods  employed  in 
France  to  improve  the  horse,  these  applying  to  the  Percheron,  dis- 
cussed elsewhere,  as  well 
as  to  the  French  Coach. 

Beginning  with  the 
Administration  des  Haras 
in  the  latter  part  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  the 
French  government  has, 
in  a  more  or  less  degree, 
continuously  promoted 
horse  improvement.  In 
1690  by  government 
decree  there  were  1600 
stallions  classed  as  either 
royal  or  approved.  In 
1  714  Louis  XV  estab- 
lished a  government  stud, 
or  haras,  at  Le  Pin,  which 

has  since  been  the  leading  one  of  France,  and  where  also  an 
equine  school  has  been  maintained.  In  1755  a  stud  with  twelve 
sub-studs  was  established  at  Pompadour,  this  being  under  govern- 
ment control.  In  1789  there  were  3239  approved  and  govern- 
ment stallions  in  France,  which  served  about   115,000  mares. 


Fig.  27.  Radziwill,  a  famous  French  Coach 
stallion,  purchased  by  the  French  govern- 
ment for  25,000  francs  ;  under  examination 
by  a  juror  at  Caen.  Photograph  by  James 
B.  McLaughlin 


76 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


During  the  first  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  government 
purchased  many  stallions  for  the  haras.  From  1815  to  1833 
there  were  bought  1902  stallions,  of  which  223  came  from  Arabia 
and  other  foreign  countries,  853  from  the  northern  departments 
of  France,  and  826  were  selections  from  the  government  studs. 
In  1833  a  royal  decree  established  a  studbook  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  pedigrees.  This  was  designated  The  French  Studbook : 
A  Register  of  Demi-Sang  Horses,  Bom  and  Imported  into 
France}  the  first  volume  of  which  was  published  in  1891,  com- 
prising 3219  stallions  and  1445  mares  registered  between  1840 

and  1890. 

On  May  5,  1870,  the 
management  of  the  gov- 
ernment haras  was  given 
to  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  and  Com- 
merce. These  were  placed 
in  charge  of  a  director 
general,  eight  inspectors, 
twenty-six  sub-directors, 
ten  superintendents,  and 
twenty-six  veterinari- 
ans. To  hold  one  of  these 
offices  one  must  be  a  grad- 
uate of  the  equine  school 
at  Le  Pin. 
In  1 874  the  government  issued  an  order  to  increase  the  stallions 
in  France  by  200  per  year  until  the  total  number  should  reach 
2500.  The  Chamber  of  Deputies  appropriated  1,500,000  francs 
($300,000)  for  prizes  for  breeding  animals,  and  50,000  francs 
($10,000)  to  experiment  with  the  Arab  and  Anglo- Arab,  using 
60  superior  mares  at  the  haras  of  Pompadour. 

Classes  of  breeding  stallions  in  France.  In  order  to  promote 
intelligent  breeding  and  a  superior  stock  of  horses  in  France,  the 
government  made  three  different  classes  of  stallions,  both  coach 
and    draft  :    First,    stallions   owned   in    the    government    haras. 


Fig.  28.  A  view  of  the  Equine  School  at  Le  Pin, 
France.  Photograph  by  James  B.  McLaugh- 
lin, Columbus,  Ohio 


1  Stud-Book  Franfais :  Registre  des  Chevanx  de  Demi-Sang,  Tome  I,  Paris, 
1801. 


THE   FRENCH  COACH 


77 


Second,  approved  or  subsidized  stallions,  such  as  are  owned  by 
private  parties.  Upon  inspection  by  government  experts,  those 
of  the  second  class  that  are  found  of  sufficient  merit  are  given 
government  approval.  The  owners  of  such  horses  are  allowed 
from  300  to  5000  francs  bonus  ($60  to  $1000)  from  the  Minister 
of  Agriculture  for  the  year  for  which  this  approval  stands,  during 
which  time  the  horses  are  to  be  used  on  the  mares  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  are  located.  Tkird,  authorized  stallions. 
These  by  official  inspection  are  pronounced  of  good  quality  and 
worthy  of  public  patronage.  Since  1885  the  French  law  has 
prohibited  from  public 
service  stallions  not  com- 
ing up  to  this  standard. 

According  to  official 
statement  in  1903,1  there 
were  owned  in  France  by 
private  proprietors,  1476 
approved  and  265  author- 
ized stallions.  Of  the 
approved,  522  proprietors 
owned  one  stallion  each ; 
167,  two;  74,  three;  and 
29,  four  ;  while  208  owned 
one  authorized  stallion  each. 

Characteristics  of  the  French  Coach.  This  breed  really  pre- 
sents some  variation  in  type.  The  larger,  smoother  sort  brought 
to  America  is  what  we  know  as  the  coacher.  These  generally 
average  about  16  hands  high,  and  American  trade  prefers  this 
height  for  stallions  and  geldings  of  maturity.  Mares  will  stand 
from  15  to  16  hands.  In  a  list  of  22  stallions  before  the  writer 
the  average  weight  in  sale  flesh  is  1396  pounds,  the  lightest 
weight  being  1300  and  the  heaviest  1475.  For  stallions  in  fair 
condition  1350  may  be  regarded  as  an  acceptable  weight,  with 
mares  at  1 200  pounds.  There  is  also  a  smaller,  more  cobby  type 
of  coacher,  or  French  trotter,  that  is  not  so  commonly  brought  to 
America,  yet  is  highly  valued  by  the  French  for  its  speed  quality. 

1  Rapport  de  l'inspecteur  general  directeur  des  haras  a  M.  le  ministre  de 
Pagriculture  sur  la  gestion  de  radministration  des  haras  en  1903. 


Fig.  29.  A  view  of  the  stable  at  the  Equine 
School,  Le  Pin,  France.  Photograph  by 
James  B.  McLaughlin,  Columbus,  Ohio 


78 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


There  is  not  a  great  variation  in  color,  bay,  in  varying  shades,  and 
brown,  being  most  common.  Of  147  stallions  and  mares  owned 
by  two  of  the  leading  dealers  in  the  United  States  there  were 
90  bays  or  brown  bays,  29  browns,  17  blacks,  and  1 1  chestnuts. 
The  French  Coach  is  characterized  by  very  good  length  of  body, 
with  a  long,  somewhat  arching  neck  and  a  long,  wide,  level  croup. 
The  trot  of  this  breed  is  long  and  powerful,  rather  than  high  and 
trappy  like  the  Hackney.  The  French  have  sought  strong  bone 
and  excellent  feet  and  great  speed  for  a  heavy  type  of  trotter. 

The  French  race  track,  which  is  either  two  and  one  half  or 
two  miles  long,  is  over  a  course  of  turf.    The  sod  track  causes 

a  high  knee  action  and 
long  stride  as  well  as  a 
strong,  well-flexed  hock 
movement. 

Speed  records  of  French 
Coachers.  As  might  natu- 
rally be  supposed,  the  use 
of  stallions  from  high-class 
speed  ancestry  on  French 
mares  produced  fast  trot- 
ters. The  horses  of 
France,  however,  have 
never  made  as  fast  time 
as  those  of  America.  In 
1873  Niger  trotted  2\ 
miles  in  6.55,  while  up  to 
1877  the  fastest  record  was  by  Pactole,  who  made  2^  miles  in  6.38. 
In  1 89 1  there  were  1 399  contestants  in  races,  3 1 2  of  which  trotted 
races  from  2  to  3f  miles  at  less  than  3  minutes  per  mile,  137 
under  2.50,  1 12  under  2.45,  and  62  under  2.40. 

The  size  and  strength  of  this  horse  enable  him  to  go  con- 
siderable distances  at  comparatively  great  speed.  In  1875,  at 
Toulouse,  Zethus,  under  saddle,  trotted  \2\  miles  in  37  minutes 
21  seconds,  and  in  another  trial  at  Caen  trotted  the  same  dis- 
tance in  37  minutes  19  seconds.  In  1877  the  mare  Zacinthe 
trotted  i8|  miles  on  an  ordinary  road  in  59  minutes,  defeating 
Zethus,  then  fourteen  years  old. 


Fig.  30.  A  first-prize  French  Coach  colt  at  a 
show  in  France.  Photograph  by  James  B. 
McLaughlin 


THE  FRENCH  COACH 


79 


The  preceding-  records  speak  well  for  the  speed  capacity  of 
the  French  Coach  horse. 

Distribution  and  adaptation.  This  breed  has  been  rather 
extensively  distributed  over  Europe  and  the  United  States, 
although  it  is  not  generally  bred  outside  of  Normandy  in 
France.  In  the  United  States  it  is  fairly  well  known  east  of  the 
Mississippi  and  north  of  the  Ohio.  The  best-known  breeding 
and  importing  studs  are  in  Ohio  and  Illinois.  The  late  Mark  W. 
Dunham  of  Wayne,  Illinois,  and  Powell  Bros,  of  Springboro, 
Pennsylvania,  were  the  most  important  breeders  and  importers  in 


■  k 

\    /Mi 

,ii*-  ^fl^^ 

M£  -' 

! 

Fig.  31.    A  French  Coach  stallion  18  years  of  age.    A  fine  example  of  vigor 
and  breed  character.    Photograph  taken  in  France  by  the  author 


this  country  for  years.  More  coach  horses  of  this  breed  are  being 
brought  to  the  United  States  than  of  any  other  kind,  unless  the 
Hackney  be  excepted. 

French  Coach  horses  seem  to  thrive  very  well  in  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  states  and  in  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley.  There  are 
but  very  few  breeding  studs.  In  the  main  stallions  are  imported 
and  are  then  used  for  breeding  on  the  larger  type  of  light  driving 
mares  of  common  stock,  to  produce  coachers  for  the  city  market. 
When  there  is  a  harmonious  mating  with  American  trotting- 
bred  stock,  a  superior  class  of  carriage  horse  is  developed. 


80  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

The  grade  or  half-bred  French  Coach  horse,  the  result  of  pure- 
bred sires  on  American-bred  mares,  is  comparatively  little  known. 
In  some  localities  very  excellent  carriage  horses  have  come  from 
French  Coach  sires  on  mares  of  trotting-blood  ancestry,  while  in 
other  regions  the  cross  has  not  been  satisfactory.  The  Hamlins 
of  Buffalo,  New  York,  sent  twelve  trotting-bred  mares  from 
Village  Farm  to  Oaklawn,  the  stud  of  the  late  M.  W.  Dunham, 
to  be  bred  to  French  Coach  sires.  They  were  retained  for  two 
years  at  Oaklawn,  and  the  half-bred  colts  met  with  considerable 
favorable  comment.  One  of  the  half-bred  stallions  was  placed 
in  the  imperial  stud  of  Japan.  Another  became  prominent  as  a 
saddle  horse.  Cogent,  got  by  Mambrino  King  out  of  a  French 
Coach  mare,  was  not  only  a  sire  of  some  distinction,  but  also 
won  numerous  prizes  as  a  heavy  harness  horse.  Mr.  J.  S.  San- 
born of  Boston,  on  his  Maine  farm,  mated  French  Coach  stallions 
to  trotting  mares  and  produced  some  very  choice  harness  horses. 
In  a  communication  to  the  Breeders  Gazette,  Messrs.  Dunham, 
Fletcher  &  Coleman  write  : 

A  few  years  ago  a  shipment  of  half  and  three-quarter  bred  French  Coach 
mares  and  geldings,  matched  and  finished  for  the  trade,  was  made  from 
Iowa  to  New  York,  where  the  animals  were  sold  at  highly  renumerative 
prices,  as  high  as  $3000  a  pair  being  paid.  Carriage  horses  of  exactly  the 
same  and  still  higher  breeding  have  been  shipped  continuously  from  the 
same  districts  in  the  Hawkeye  state  ever  since,  with  equally  or  still  more 
profitable  results. 

American  studbook.  There  are  two  societies  in  the  United 
States  for  French  Coach  horses,  viz.  The  French  Coach  Horse 
Society  with  present  headquarters  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  the 
French  Coach  Registry  Company  with  headquarters  at  Columbus, 
Ohio.  The  former  was  organized  in  1885,  and  published  its  first 
studbook  in  1906.  The  French  Coach  Registry  Company  was 
organized  in  1904,  and  also  published  Volume  I  of  its  studbook 
in  1906. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE   GERMAN   COACH 

The  history  of  the  German  Coach  horse  is  hardly  clear  to 
American  students.  Nearly  all  the  evidence  we  have  regarding 
it  is  found  in  live-stock  and  agricultural  journals,  which  in  the 
main  consists  of  contributions  from  partisans  of  the  breed.  In  the 
United  States  carriage  or  coach  horses  from  Germany  have  been 
advertised  as  Hanoverian,  Oldenburg,  and  German  Coach. 

The  home  of  horse  breeding  in  Germany  has  long  been  recog- 
nized as  especially  located  in  the  northwestern  section,  in  the 
rich  lowlands  drained  by  the  rivers  Elbe,  Weser,  and  Ems,  all  of 
which  flow  into  the  North  Sea.  Here  was  originally  found  the 
great  draft  horse  of  northern  Europe,  and  here  to-day  the  coach 
horse  is  bred,  especially  in  the  states  of  Hanover,  Oldenburg, 
and  Schleswig-Holstein,  and  in  the  district  of  East  Friesland. 

Early  records  of  horse  breeding  in  Germany  go  back  nearly 
five  centuries.  We  are  told  that  early  in  1500  important  annual 
fairs  were  held  in  Friesland  near  the  Holland  boundary,  where 
buyers  from  Holland,  Belgium,  and  Germany  found  superior 
horses.  From  1628  to  1648  the  stables  of  Count  Ulrich  II  con- 
tained numerous  stallions  of  high  repute.  A  government  stud 
was  established  at  Ilo,  which  contained  182  horses  in  1648.  In 
1658  Count  Enno  Ludwig  sent  the  Emperor  Leopold  a  number 
of  beautiful  and  valuable  horses.  In  1 708  Prince  George  Albrecht 
prepared  a  catalogue  of  his  stud,  which  contained  horses  from 
the  prominent  horse  countries  of  the  world,  including  Turkey, 
Poland,  Hungary,  Transylvania,  Denmark,  England,  and  even 
Iceland.  This  shows  the  mixed  character  of  the  early  German 
horse  stock.  At  Harlingerland,  in  East  Friesland,  government 
studs  were  in  operation  and  reports  refer  to  these  as  far  back  as 
1 712,  when  16  stallions  were  used  here  for  service  on  819  mares. 
In  1889,  in  this  same  region,  1 5  stallions  were  used  on  142 1  mares. 

Si 


82  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Government   supervision  of  horse  breeding  in    Germany  has 

obtained  for  centuries.  The  use  of  stallions  on  the  mares  of  East 
Friesland  was  regulated  by  royal  edict  for  many  years.  Finally 
more  liberality  was  permitted  in  the  use  of  stallions,  but  govern- 
ment supervision,  much  as  in  Belgium,  was  the  rule.  It  was  made 
a  law  that  no  permits  should  be  issued  authorizing  the  use  of 
stallions,  unless  they  passed  a  satisfactory  government  inspection. 
At  the  present  time  both  the  government  and  agricultural  societies 
promote  intelligent  horse  breeding.  Prizes  are  awarded  for  ani- 
mals of  special  merit,  and  such  animals  must  remain  in  the  country 
for  a  specified  term.  First  prizes  are  awarded  only  to  mature 
horses  and  mares  that  have  shown  merit  as  breeders.  Stallion 
shows  have  long  been  held  at  Aurich,  in  East  Friesland,  where 
the  horses  are  brought  annually  for  inspection  and  approval. 
Prizes  for  brood  mares  are  also  awarded  by  the  government. 

The  type  of  German  Coach  horse,  as  seen  in  America,  possesses 
some  considerable  variation.  In  1893,  at  the  World's  Columbian 
Exposition  at  Chicago,  an  exhibit  of  over  eighty  German  Coach 
horses  was  made,  including  special  exhibits  from  Germany  made 
by  the  Oldenburg  Agricultural  Society,  the  Hanoverian  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  central  Germany,  and  the  East  Friesland 
Head  Agricultural  Society.  There  was  some  considerable  varia- 
tion in  the  types  shown,  and  following  the  awards  by  German 
judges  came  pronounced  objection  and  dissatisfaction.  This 
resulted  in  an  editorial  statement  on  the  German  Coach  type, 
which  appeared  in  the  Breeders'1  Gazette  and  was  authorized  by  the 
German  judges.  This  statement  is  of  importance  to  American 
students,  and  so  is  given  here  : 

The  visiting  German  horsemen  make  the  following  claims  concerning  the 
light  types  of  horses.  Four  types  of  light-legged  horses  are  recognized,  and 
each  now  has  its  separate  studbook.  The  Trakehner  is  the  lightest  of  all 
and  is  a  carriage  and  saddle  horse,  not  a  heavy  coacher.  The  Holstein  and 
Hanoverian  horses  are  about  the  same  type,  but  the  Hanoverians  are  more 
used  for  saddle  horses  and  the  Holsteins  for  carriage  horses.  This  difference 
in  use  implies  somewhat  of  a  difference  in  action.  The  Oldenburg  is  the 
heaviest  type,  and  these  horses  are  used  for  heavy  coach  work,  such  as  state 
coaches,  and  as  farm  or  all-purpose  horses,  and  are  not  put  under  saddle. 
Then  there  are  the  East  Friesland  horses,  which  are  practically  Oldenburgs, 
as  they  are  bred  from  Oldenburg  sires.  It  is  claimed  that  these  distinctions 
are  actual  rather  than  artificial. 


THE  GERMAN  COACH 


83 


The  history  of  the  German  Coach  horse  in  America  is  a  com- 
paratively brief  one.  These  horses  were  first  brought  to  the 
United  States  along  in  the  eighties.  Not  much  prior  to  1890  did 
the  breed  receive  recognition  at  American  shows.  A.  B.  Holbert, 
of  Greeley,  Iowa,  was  one  of  the  earliest  introducers  of  the  breed. 
The  Oltmann  Bros,  of  Illinois  and  Crouch  &  Son  of  Indiana 


Jw 

ijj9 

BS 

■  ■'  iH 

V:  ■&      "      :--'^-.^v ,■•>-.■-■:     '-••■.     i  j.              ~$ 

1         flffQHs 

1  11 

...  a, ;"     v..!y^> 

■   '     *\'^          \     —A         =•-.,,_               ,    '      .:•      :''  ..%■■ 

Fig.  32.  Hannibal,  a  German  Coach  stallion  imported  by  Crouch  &  Son, 
La  Fayette,  Indiana.  It  is  doubtful  if  a  better  specimen  of  the  breed 
has  been  shown  in  America.  A  prize  winner  of  the  highest  rank  at 
many  shows.    Photograph  by  the  author 


have  also  been  most  actively  and  prominently  identified  with  its 
promotion  during  its  career  in  the  United  States.  Its  distribution 
began  in  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Iowa,  was  extended  to  California, 
and  is  now  being  projected  over  still  wider  fields,  the  South  and 
general  West  being  included. 

The  German  Coach  horse  organization  in  America  began  in 
1892  with  the  incorporation,  under  the  laws  of  Illinois,  of  the 
German,  Hanoverian,  and  Oldenburg  Coach  Horse  Association. 


84  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Very  soon  after  the  organization  of  this  association  came  the 
Oldenburg  Coach  Horse  Association,  which  was  also  incorporated 
in  Illinois.  Both  of  these  organizations  still  exist,  though  just 
why  they  should  is  not  clear.  So  far  as  the  American  public  is 
aware,  the  various  coach  horses  brought  to  America  from  Ger- 
many are  exhibited  here  as  the  German  Coach  breed,  whether 
Oldenburg,  Hanoverian,  or  otherwise.  Leading  importers  who 
advertise,  designate  their  horses  as  "  Oldenburg,  German  Coach," 
or  "German,  Hanoverian,  and  Oldenburg  Coach."  This  differ- 
ence of  title  may  be  accounted  for  in  part  by  the  variety  of  type. 
This  apparent  confusion  of  names  in  America,  the  advocates  of  the 
breed  or  breeds  would  do  well  to  clarify  in  some  permanent  way. 

Characteristics  of  the  German  Coach  horse.  In  height  the 
breed  ranges  from  \6  to  \6\  hands,  and  in  weight  from  1350  to 
1450  pounds.  The  color  does  not  vary  greatly,  being  almost  exclu- 
sively bay,  brown,  or  black.  The  head  is  fairly  typical  of  the 
coachers,  the  neck  being  long  and  arched,  the  shoulders  well 
placed,  and  the  withers  prominent.  The  body  of  the  German 
Coach  is  somewhat  larger  than  that  of  the  French  Coach,  and  the 
croup  is  high  and  the  tail  well  placed.  The  legs  show  considerable 
length  compared  with  the  Hackney,  while  the  feet  are  excellent. 
On  the  basis  of  many  specimens  brought  to  this  country,  seen 
by  the  writer,  the  German  Coach  varies  materially  in  size  and 
quality.  Coarseness  is  not  uncommon,  as  seen  in  large  heads 
and  joints  with  more  or  less  largeness  of  bone.  In  action  there 
is  a  wide  difference  of  merit,  and,  from  the  coach-horse  point  of 
view,  frequent  deficiency.  A  superior  folding  of  knee  and  flexing 
of  hock,  with  desirable  activity,  is  not  a  prevailing  attribute  of 
American  specimens  of  the  breed.  This  contrast  in  style  and 
action  will  be  clearly  brought  out  by  visiting  both  German  Coach 
and  Hackney  stables,  and  studying  the  movements  of  numerous 
horses  of  each  breed. 

Cross-bred  or  grade  German  Coach  horses  are  now  becoming 
more  common  than  formerly  in  this  country.  Some  of  these, 
the  product  from  American  mares,  are  very  good,  while  others 
lack  quality  and  finish.  When  used  on  coarse  mares  a  stallion 
of  the  breed  will  not  be  likely  to  produce  satisfactory  offspring. 
Used  on  the  finer  sort  of  mare  of  trotting  ancestry  better  returns 


THE  GERMAN   COACH  85 

may  be  expected.  One  prominent  importer,  who  is  seeking  to 
introduce  the  breed  in  the  South,  says  in  the  Breeders  Gazette : 
"  We  are  advising  our  southern  friends  to  cross  their  small 
mares  on  the  German  Coach  stallion,  which  weighs  from  1300  to 
1400  pounds,  and  the  progeny  of  this  cross  will  be  a  good,  strong 
serviceable  horse  that  will  do  their  work  in  the  fields,  can  be 
used  on  the  roads,  and  is  a  marketable  horse  in  every  respect." 

German  Coach  horses  of  importance  are  not  as  yet  known  in 
America  in  large  numbers.  Among  the  earlier  imported  Moltke 
1 3,  Kaiser  Wilhelm  494,  Young  Altona  I  458,  and  Young  Adonis 
476  met  with  favorable  comment,  the  latter  being  a  successful 
prize  winner  in  California  in  1891.  In  the  central  West  the 
horses  Bertus,  brought  out  by  Oltmann  Bros.,  and  Euto  and 
Hannibal,  by  Crouch  &  Son,  have  been  distinguished  specimens 
of  the  breed  in  the  show  ring,  winning  against  the  severest 
competition  for  years  in  succession. 

German  Coach  mares  have  not  as  yet  been  brought  to  America 
on  any  scale  of  importance,  and  there  has  been  no  breeding  stud 
that  has  gained  prominence.  A  very  great  percentage  of  the 
offspring  of  the  stallions  must  be  grades,  the  product  of  native 
mares. 

The  distribution  of  German  Coach  horses  is  very  widespread. 
They  may  be  found  in  various  European  countries,  in  South 
America,  South  Africa,  and  quite  widely  over  the  United  States 
and  the  Canadian  Northwest.  For  years  the  most  prominent 
importers,  exhibitors,  and  promoters  of  the  breed  have  had  head- 
quarters in  Indiana  and  Illinois. 

A  German  Coach  horse  studbook  of  "  the  German,  Hanoverian, 
and  Oldenburg  Coach  Horse,"  containing  pedigrees  of  registered 
stallions  and  mares  imported  or  raised  in  America,  has  been 
published  by  the  association  bearing  this  title.  Two  volumes 
have  been  issued  up  to  1906.  They  contain  the  registration  of 
about  eighteen  hundred  animals,  mostly  stallions. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THE  CLEVELAND  BAY 

The  native  home  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  horse  is  in  northeastern 
England,  in  the  county  of  York.  It  is  also  said  that  a  similar 
type  formerly  existed  in  Devon  in  south  England.  The  breed,  as 
now  known,  has  its  breeding  center  in  the  counties  of  Durham, 
Northumberland,  and  especially  York,  and  it  is  in  the  latter 
county,  among  the  Cleveland  Hills,  in  North  and  East  Riding,  it 
has  been  found  in  its  greatest  purity.  York  is  a  rolling  or  slightly 
hilly  country,  with  rougher  land  up  in  Northumberland.  Superior 
pastures  cover  these  hills  and  make  ideal  conditions  for  producing 
coach  horses  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  sort. 

The  origin  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  is  very  obscure.  Formerly  it 
was  known  as  the  Chapman  or  pack  horse,  the  name  Cleveland 
Bay  being  a  modern  one.  Some  have  assumed  that  the  breed  is 
descended  from  Roman  days  in  Britain,  and  comes  from  the 
union  of  Oriental  horses  and  English  stock.  Others  have  attrib- 
uted the  breed  to  the  use  of  Thoroughbreds  on  British  cart- 
horse mares,  which  no  doubt  is  quite  within  the  facts.  This 
theory  has  been  resented  by  some  Cleveland  Bay  authorities 
who  wish  to  show  a  pure  ancestry.  The  use  of  Scandinavian 
horse  blood  has  also  been  suggested,  thus  accounting  for  the  black 
points  in  the  Cleveland.  Another  eminent  authority  offers  the 
theory  that  this  breed  has  been  gradually  developed  from  the 
native  horses  in  southern  England,  with  possibly  some  help  in 
early  times  from  Oriental  or  Thoroughbred  blood. 

In  spite  of  these  various  theories  nothing  definite  is  known 
on  the  subject.  The  mares  of  Cleveland  were,  no  doubt,  crossed 
more  or  less  with  Thoroughbred  or  other  blood,  and  plenty  of 
evidence  exists  to  show  that  in  early  times,  at  least,  the  breed 
was  not  of  absolute  purity.  This  criticism  however  will  apply 
to  most  other  breeds  as  well. 

86 


THE  CLEVELAND  BAY  87 

The  early  purpose  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  is  universally  recog- 
nized as  agricultural  or  general  utility.  In  1823  a  writer  in  the 
Farmer  s  Magazine  made  this  statement  : 

The  original  breed  of  the  country  was  neither  blood  nor  black,  that  is,  a 
distinct  race  from  the  English  blood  horse,  and  equally  distinct  from  the 
black  or  cart  breed  of  the  country.  It  was  the  basis  of  the  breed  of  the  old 
London  coach  horse  when  heavier  cattle  were  used  for  these  conveyances  ; 
and  after  it  became  the  fashion  to  adopt  a  lighter  horse  for  carriages,  this 
valuable  breed  was  allowed  to  become  almost  extinct  until  their  excellence 
for  agricultural  purposes  was  noticed  by  some  practical  farmers  in  the  north 
of  England,  who  for  several  years  have  been  exerting  themselves  to  revive 
the  breed. 

The  purity  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  as  a  breed  has  been  the  sub- 
ject of  much  controversy.  For  nearly  a  century  supply  and 
demand  has  affected  the  welfare  of  this  horse.  The  preceding 
reference,  written  in  1 8 23,  indicates  that.  In  1 849  George  Legard, 
in  the  Journal  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  contributed  still 
other  evidence  in  the  same  line  : 

Formerly  a  large,  powerfully  boned  animal  was  required  for  carriage 
purposes.  The  fashion  of  the  present  day  has,  however,  changed  in  this 
particular,  and  now  it  is  necessary  that  the  London  carriage  horses  should 
be  at  least  three  parts  Thoroughbred.  Consequently  all  traces  of  the  orig- 
inal pure  coaching  breed,  or  Cleveland  Bay,  as  it  was  termed,  are  nearly 
obliterated. 

Marshall,  himself  a  native  of  Yorkshire  and  a  famous  agri- 
cultural writer  of  a  century  ago,  deplored  the  use  of  the  Thor- 
oughbred as  spoiling  the  Cleveland.  The  breed  was  of  great 
endurance,  and  the  mares  bred  to  Thoroughbreds  produced 
Hunters  of  superior  merit  and  power. 

When  the  fields  of  Yorkshire  became  more  subject  to  tillage, 
and  when  the  mines  and  city  drayage  began  to  require  heavy 
horses,  then  the  lighter  Cleveland  type  became  unpopular,  and  the 
cart  horse,  the  Clydesdale  and  Shire,  came  into  prominence.  The 
heavy  horse  brought  the  most  money,  and  so  the  Cleveland  Bay 
fell  into  disfavor  and  was  neglected. 

From  185 1  to  1867  the  breed  was  in  considerable  favor,  after 
which  came  a  decline  in  its  popularity.  In  1884  the  Cleveland 
Bay  Horse  Society  was  organized  in  Yorkshire,  to  promote  its 


88  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

purity  and  to  put  the  breed  in  proper  relation  to  the  public. 
Even  this,  however,  did  not  give  such  impetus  to  its  develop- 
ment as  might  have  been  anticipated.  At  the  1885  show  of  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society,  held  in  the  county  of  York  right 
where  the  breed  is  supposed  to  be  strongest,  but  one  entry  of  a 
Cleveland  Bay  was  made,  a  mare  and  foal.  At  the  1900  exhibit 
of  the  Royal  Society,  again  held  at  York,  a  very  good  show  of 
Clevelands  was  made,  forty-one  head  being  entered.    Since  then 


Fig.  33.  Special  Delight.  Champion  Cleveland  Bay  stallion  at  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  Show  of  England,  1904.  Photograph  from  William 
Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berkamsted,  England 

some  quite  creditable  exhibits  have  been  made  at  various  Eng- 
lish shows.  This  indicates  some  progress,  still  the  breed  cannot 
to-day  be  regarded  as  common  in  England. 

The  Cleveland  Bay  in  America  must  be  regarded  almost  in  the 
light  of  a  failure.  Along  in  the  eighties  quite  a  number  were 
imported,  and  in  1885  tne  Cleveland  Bay  Horse  Society  of 
America  was  organized  at  Chicago.  At  one  time  Stericker 
Bros.,   then   of   Springfield,    Illinois,    had   a   large  stud   of   this 


THE  CLEVELAND  BAY  89 

breed  and  made  most  attractive  exhibits.  The  people  of  the 
United  States,  however,  have  never  been  favorably  impressed 
in  a  large  way,  consequently  Cleveland  Bay  interests  have  mainly 
died  out.  Specimens  of  Cleveland  Bays  are  now  almost  unknown 
in  our  horse  shows.  In  1900  the  class  for  Cleveland  Bays  at 
the  Illinois  State  Fair  was  discontinued,  yet  Illinois  but  a  few 
years  before  had  the  principal  stud  of  this  breed  in  America. 
Neither  is  there  any  breeder  prominently  advocating  the  merits 
of  the  breed,  and  importations  are  rarely  made. 

Cleveland  Bay  characteristics  need  but  a  brief  consideration 
here.  The  color  is  always  bay,  either  light  or  dark,  with  black 
legs,  mane,  and  tail.  White  is  not  permissible,  except  a  small 
star  in  the  forehead  or  few  white  hairs  on  the  heel.  More  white, 
the  breeders  say,  indicates  foreign  blood.  The  color  may  be  dap- 
pled, and  dark  bars  may  occasionally  be  seen  on  the  lower  arm 
or  possibly  above  the  hock.  The  height  ranges  from  \6\  to  i6| 
hands,  and  the  weight  from  1200  to  1550  pounds.  A  pure-bred 
mare,  Jessica  214,  owned  by  the  Ohio  State  University,  weighs 
about  1350  pounds  in  moderate  flesh.  The  stallion  Lord  Derby 
231  (740),  a  first-prize  winner  at  the  Yorkshire  show,  and 
imported  by  Galbraith  Brothers,  weighed  about  1550  pounds. 
The  body  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  is  of  the  larger  coach  type  with 
long  sloping  shoulder  and  high,  broad  croup.  The  head  has  been 
regarded  as  lacking  in  refinement,  while  the  limbs  have  not  as 
much  quality  as  the  best  market  demands.  In  action  the  move- 
ment is  strong  and  powerful,  but  not  stylish.  The  breed  is  per- 
haps the  largest  of  the  coach  type,  and  lacks  somewhat  the  quality 
of  the  prominent  coach  breeds.  William  Scarth  Dixon,  one  of  the 
best  English  authorities  on  the  breed,  writing  in  1902,  says  : 

The  Cleveland  Bay  is  distinguished  for  his  size,  the  peculiar  quality  and 
amount  of  his  bone,  and  for  his  general  symmetry.  Color  is  indispensable. 
.  .  .  "  What  we  want  is  more  quality,"  say  breeders  and  dealers  alike. 
Admitted,  but  at  the  same  time  I  must  point  out  that  quality  is  a  very  elastic 
term  ;  that  there  is  a  so-called  quality  which  is  certainly  of  a  very  mere- 
tricious character,  for  it  tends  to  eliminate  from  a  breed  its  most  valuable 
characteristics.  And  it  must  be  urged,  even  to  the  point  of  tediousness,  that 
as  the  quality  of  the  Shire  horse  is  different  from  the  Thoroughbred,  so  in 
character  does  the  quality  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  differ  from  the  quality  of 
the  Yorkshire  Coach  horse. 


9o  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND   MULE 

A  number  of  Cleveland  Bays  which  the  author  has  known 
have  been  characterized  by  none  too  gentle  a  disposition. 

Cleveland  Bays  as  roadsters  are  very  capable,  and  in  fact 
always  have  had  fame  in  England  for  this  quality.  Cases  have 
been  known  where  the  Cleveland  Bay  has  traveled  from  sixty  to 
seventy  miles  within  twenty-four  hours,  with  heavy  loads,  three 
or  four  times  a  week,  besides  being  employed  occasionally  on 
intermediate  days.  Hodgson,  in  a  Journal  of  the  Royal  Agricitl- 
tural  Society  says  : 

I  knew  a  Cleveland  mare  that  carried  a  man  seventy  miles  a  day  for  a 
week  together.  Tommy  Miles,  of  Harlsey,  near  Northallerton,  rode  his 
Cleveland  mare  to  York  for  a  week  together,  to  have  his  name  called  over 
in  court  as  a  juryman  ;  he  was  in  York  by  nine  o'clock  every  morning 
(thirty-five  miles),  and  slept  in  his  own  bed  at  Harlsey  (thirty-five  miles) 
every  night. 

Half-bred  or  grade  Cleveland  Bays  have  not  met  with  favor  in 
America,  though  the  writer  has  seen  some  excellent  specimens 
of  the  latter  in  active  service  as  general  purpose  horses  of  the 
lighter  type.  These  had  plenty  of  stamina  and  were  of  fair 
quality.  Half-breds  in  England,  resulting  from  breeding  Thor- 
oughbreds to  Cleveland  mares  or  half-bred  mares,  made  very 
superior  Hunters.  A  medium-sized  or  small  Thoroughbred  stal- 
lion on  short  legs  bred  to  a  Cleveland  mare  of  substance  was  a 
favorite  cross  many  years  ago  in  Yorkshire,  producing  a  Hunting 
horse  exactly  suited  to  the  needs  then,  as  no  doubt  it  is  now. 

Cleveland  Bay  studbooks  have  been  published  in  both  Eng- 
land and  the  United  States.  Two  volumes  have  been  issued  in 
this  country  up  to  1905,  Volume  II  dated  1891.  These  contain 
registrations  of  762  stallions  and  192  mares.  The  studbook 
directs  attention  to  the  fact  that  with  the  pure  Cleveland  of 
merit  the  ancestry  will  go  back  to  one  or  more  of  the  three 
families,  — descendants  of  Dart  (83),  The  Hob  Horse  (316),  and 
Barley  Harvest  (447). 

The  distribution  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  is  rather  widespread, 
they  having  been  exported  to  various  parts  of  the  world,  includ- 
ing Sweden,  Canada,  United  States,  South  Africa,  Australia,  and 
South  America.  At  the  present  time  a  large  share  of  those 
exported  go  to  South  Africa. 


THE  CLEVELAND  BAY  9 1 

The  Yorkshire  Coach  horse  bears  a  peculiar  relationship  to 
the  Cleveland  Bay,  and  calls  for  some  consideration  at  this 
point.  In  England  there  is  a  Yorkshire  Coach  Horse  Society  in 
addition  to  the  Cleveland  Society,  and  horses  of  each  kind  are 
registered  separately.  In  America,  however,  Yorkshire  Coach 
horses  and  Cleveland  Bays  are  regarded  as  one  breed  and  are 
registered  in  the  Cleveland  Bay  Stndbook  of  North  America. 
The  Yorkshire  Coach  horse  is  of  more  recent  development 
than  the  Cleveland,  and  has  been  designated  as  an  improved 
Cleveland.  It  tends  to  be  smaller  in  size,  is  more  coachy  in 
action,  and  has  perhaps  more  quality.  The  improved  quality 
is  due  to  Thoroughbred  blood.  In  the  Yorkshire  Coach  Horse 
Stndbook  of  E  Jig  land,  published  in  1887,  is  the  following  official 
statement  of  "The  Origin  and  Characteristics  of  the  Yorkshire 
Coach  Horse." 

It  cannot  be  claimed  for  the  Yorkshire  Coach  horse  that  he  is  a  pure- 
bred animal,  but  that,  on  the  contrary,  by  the  judicious  crossing  of  large- 
sized,  good-colored  mares  with  stallions  altogether  or  nearly  Thoroughbred 
a  class  of  horses  has  been  produced  suited  to  the  wants  and  circumstances 
of  the  times.  By  universal  consent  the  color  should  be  bay  or  brown,  with 
black  eyes,  mane  and  tail  abundant  but  not  curly,  the  height  from  16  hands 
to  16  hands  2  inches,  with  fine  head,  sloping  shoulders,  strong  loins,  and 
lengthy  quarters,  high-stepping  action,  good  sound  feet,  flat  legs,  and 
abundance  of  bone  and  muscle. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE   DRAFT  TYPE 

The  general  conformation  of  the  draft  horse  involves  a  massive 
form,  a  compact  and  blocky  body,  and  a  comparative  shortness 
and  strength  of  limb,  the  whole  being  in  harmonious  proportion. 
Weight  is  a  most  important  consideration,  for  a  true  draft  horse 
must  weigh  heavy  compared  with  the  lighter  type.  A  draft  horse 
in  fair  condition  at  maturity  may  weigh  anywhere  from  1500 
to  2000  or  more  pounds.  Grouped  into  classes,  the  light  draft 
horse  may  weigh  usually  from  1500  to  1600  pounds,  the  medium 
from  1600  to  1700,  and  the  heavy  from  1700  up.  The  greater 
the  weight,  as  a  rule,  the  higher  the  price  paid  for  the  superior 
specimen  of  the  type.  An  increase  of  twenty-five  cents  for  each 
additional  pound  of  weight  has  been  given  as  representing  this 
growth  in  value.  In  order  to  pull  heavy  loads  the  draft  horse 
must  possess  plenty  of  weight.  It  becomes  very  evident  that 
the  heavy  horse  in  harness  brings  greater  power  into  the  collar 
than  does  the  light  one.  The  height  is  not  so  material,  provided 
there  is  the  necessary  weight.  Draft  horses  usually  stand  from 
16  to  17I  hands,  though  occasional  exceptions  occur.  The  light 
draft  represents  the  lesser  height,  and  as  the  weight  increases 
the  height  may  also  bear  a  relationship  to  it.  Quality  and  sub- 
stance, as  shown  in  hair,  bone,  and  joints,  should  be  preeminent 
with  this  horse.  The  hair  should  be  fine  and  silky,  even  if  long, 
and  the  bone  smooth  and  attractive,  with  neatly  turned  joints, 
the  lower  limbs  being  generally  free  from  all  superfluous  fleshi- 
ness. Coarse  joints  are  usually  associated  with  coarse  and  poor 
bone  and  feet,  and  often  with  a  coarse  and  undesirable  head.  The 
long  hair  on  the  leg  of  the  Clydesdale  or  Shire  is  indicative  of  qual- 
ity, fine  silky  hair  being  associated  with  superior  bone  and  feet. 

The  action  of  the  draft  horse  should  be  true  and  bold.  As  the 
horse  comes  toward  one  or  goes  from  him  the  line  of  movement 

92 


THE  DRAFT  TYPE 


93 


of  the  limbs  should  be  true,  the  feet  being  carried  straight  away, 
with  no  so-called  paddling  or  irregularity  of  gait.  The  feet  should 
be  picked  up  with  snap,  whether  at  walk  or  trot,  and  carried  clear 
of  the  ground,  showing  the  sole  of  the  foot  clearly  in  the  move- 
ment. High  knee  action  is  not  essential,  but  a  strong,  full,  true 
movement  of  both  knee  and  hock,  without  dragging  or  stiffness, 


Fig.  34.    A  champion  Clydesdale  stallion  owned  by  Galbraith  &  Son,  show- 
ing draft  weight  and  conformation.    Photograph  from  McLay  Bros. 

is  very  important.  The  draft  horse  should  have  an  active  walk, 
for  the  value  of  a  fast  walker  considerably  exceeds  that  of  the 
sluggish  type.  In  the  sale  or  show  ring  high-class  action  with 
a  draft  horse  adds  materially  to  the  selling  or  show  value,  no 
matter  what  the  breed.  A  free  and  easy  movement  of  knee  and 
hock  is  essential  to  high-class  action.  In  connection  with  good 
action  the  head  and  neck  should  be  carried  high,  with  style  and 
body  action. 


94  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

The  head  should  be  lean,  not  out  of  proportion  with  the  body, 
have  plenty  of  breadth  between  the  eyes,  which  should  be  reason- 
ably prominent  and  bright.  The  nose  and  muzzle  should  be  broad 
yet  not  coarse,  with  nostrils  of  ample  size  for  easy  breathing. 
Nicely  matched  lips  and  strong  cheeks  and  lower  jaws  help  to 
make  a  strong  head  with  character.  The  head  should  be  crowned 
with  fine  ears  of  medium  size  gracefully  placed  and  carried. 

The  neck  of  the  draft  horse  is  strong  and  muscular,  supporting 
the  head  cleanly  and  gracefully,  and  being  joined  smoothly  and 
deeply  at  the  body.  Some  arch  to  the  neck  is .  desirable ;  this 
should  appear  in  a  very  small  degree  with  mares  and  geldings, 
yet  enough  to  suggest  power. 

The  shoulders  should  not  be  as  long  and  sloping  as  with  a 
light  driver,  but  more  upright,  being  well  set  into  the  back,  a 
happy  medium  between  the  straight  and  sloping  shoulder  giving 
the  best  power  and  movement  for  the  draft  horse.  Too  straight 
a  shoulder  promotes  excessive  concussion  and  bone  trouble  of 
the  limbs  and  feet.  Smoothness  of  shoulder  is  essential,  for 
roughness  and  prominence  will  be  sure  to  involve  soreness  and 
trouble  from  fit  of  collar. 

The  chest  should  be  full  and  deep,  indicating  large  capacity 
of  the  vital  organs.  Narrowness  behind  the  shoulders  is  quite 
common,  and  indicates  defective  constitution.  Too  much  thick- 
ness of  chest,  an  unusual  occurrence,  may  cause  a  swaying 
movement  in  action. 

The  arm  must  be  large  and  muscular,  and  placed  so  as  to  bring 
the  legs  in  proper  position  under  the  body,  not  standing  out  at 
the  corners. 

The  fore  arm  should  be  comparatively  long,  broadly  and 
strongly  muscled  in  its  upper  part,  and  gradually  taper  to  the 
knee.  A  powerful  fore  arm  on  the  draft  horse  is  highly  impor- 
tant and  its  value  is  not  likely  to  be  overestimated. 

The  knee  must  be  broad,  as  viewed  from  the  front,  be  well 
carried  back,  and  be  amply  supported  from  below.  This  part 
should  be  neat  and  cleanly  jointed. 

The  cannon  bone  is  round,  but  has  tendons  extending  down 
its  back  edge,  more  or  less  separated  from  the  bone.  As  viewed 
from  one  side,  the  cannon  and  its  attachment  should  be  deep, 


THE  DRAFT  TYPE  95 

amply  supporting  the  knee ;  and  viewed  from  rear  or  front, 
should  be  quite  flat,  thus  representing  the  strongest  conformation. 
Often  the  cannon  is  tied  in  beneath  the  knee,  which  indicates 
weakness.  A  long  or  rounded  cannon  shows  faulty  conforma- 
tion. Flatness  and  shortness  below  the  knee  are  always  asso- 
ciated with  the  best  development.  A  fair  girth  at  the  smallest 
point  is  9|  inches.  A  large  girth,  however,  does  not  always  indi- 
cate proper  development,  as  the  leg  may  be  coarse  and  out  of 
proportion. 

The  fetlock,  or,  as  it  is  often  called,  the  pastern  joint,  must 
be  smooth  and  deep,  with  no  roughness. 

The  pastern  is  an  important  part  of  the  leg.  It  should  be 
fairly  long,  be  perfectly  smooth  and  free  from  extra  flesh,  and 
stand  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees.  At  this  slope  concussion 
is  received  in  perhaps  the  least  degree,  and  with  least  injury  to 
the  foot  and  leg.  There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  among 
horsemen  on  the  length  of  pastern,  some  preferring  one  reason- 
ably long  and  others  one  of  medium  length.  The  slope  is  more 
important  than  the  length,  but  no  doubt  better  feet  prevail  where 
the  pastern  leans  toward  length  rather  than  shortness.  Side- 
bones,  ringbones,  and  other  foot  troubles  are  most  prevalent 
with  short,  straight-pasterned  draft  horses.  As  the  horse  natu- 
rally places  the  foot  in  action,  the  pressure  first  comes  on  the 
frog  and  is  then  distributed  over  the  rest  of  the  foot.  If  the 
pastern  is  straight,  the  toe  and  front  of  the  foot  strike  first, 
and  thus  the  concussion  is  greatest. 

The  foot  ought  to  be  large,  the  hoof  dense  and  preferably 
dark  in  color,  the  sole  concave,  and  the  frog  large.  There  is  an 
old  saying,  "  No  foot,  no  horse."  Sound  feet  are  absolutely 
essential  to  comfort  and  efficiency  of  work.  The  interior  of  the 
foot  contains  very  sensitive  nerves  and  membranes.  If  the  foot 
is  too  small  and  contracted,  if  the  frog  is  too  narrow  and  low, 
inflammation  of  the  membranes  will  frequently  follow.  The  ample 
foot,  wide  on  top  and  behind,  well  supported  at  the  heel,  and 
carried  true  in  movement,  turning  neither  in  nor  out  at  the  toe, 
is  least  likely  to  be  troubled  with  disease. 

The  body  should  be  short  on  top,  long  below,  broad  along  the 
back,  with  the  ribs  strongly  arched  and  of  great  depth.    A  long 


96  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

back  indicates  weakness  of  both  constitution  and  draft  power, 
while  a  short,  deeply  muscled  back  means  strength.  If  the  ribs 
are  well  sprung  and  deep,  it  shows  capacity  of  the  internal 
organs,  indicates  a  good  feeder,  and  materially  adds  to  the 
weight  necessary  in  the  drafter.  Usually  satisfactory  rib  devel- 
opment provides  a  proper  body  conformation.  Often  immature 
horses  appear  to  lack  depth  of  body  to  some  degree,  but  age 
and  feeding  establish  the  proper  proportions.  The  horse  that 
lacks  depth  of  body  will  also  lack  such  essentials  as  capacity 
and  the  power  of  endurance. 

The  loin  should  be  broad  and  thickly  muscled.  Narrow,  thin 
loins  indicate  weakness  of  a  serious  character.  Often  the  loin  is 
depressed  directly  in  front  of  the  space  between  the  hips,  a  dis- 
tinctly undesirable  conformation.  Animals  with  a  sway  back  as 
a  rule  show  this  weakness  of  loin. 

The  croup  should  be  broad,  wide,  fairly  level,  and  heavily 
muscled.  A  steep  croup  is  very  objectionable,  and  affects 
both  the  beauty  and  power  of  the  horse.  A  short,  steep  croup 
is  less  strongly  muscled  than  one  that  is  long.  The  Belgian 
and  French  draft  breeds  seem  most  subject  to  steepness  of 
rump  and  low  setting  of  tail. 

The  thigh  should  be  strongly  muscled,  and  the  quarters  should 
be  thick  and  full.  A  horse  split  up  high  behind,  with  a  thin, 
sharply  tapering  thigh,  lacks  good  draft  form  at  this  place.  The 
gaskin,  or  lower  thigh,  when  properly  made,  is  deep  from  front 
to  rear  and  heavily  covered  with  muscle. 

The  hock  is  a  part  which  requires  careful  study.  As  viewed 
from  one  side,  it  should  show  considerable  depth,  while  from 
the  rear  it  should  possess  a  certain  degree  of  thinness,  though 
broad  in  front,  the  entire  joint  being  free  from  extra  flesh. 
Thick  hocks  are  very  common  with  draft  horses,  due  to  various 
reasons.  The  joint  may  be  fleshy,  puffiness  may  occur  from  lack 
of  exercise,  or  a  form  of  spavin  may  exist.  The  hock  should  be 
smooth  and  its  various  natural  curves  well  denned.  As  the 
horse  stands  in  a  natural  position  on  his  feet,  the  hocks  should 
be  straight  and  true  as  viewed  from  behind,  showing  no  evidence 
of  weakness.  Where  the  hock  holds  a  true  position  the  hind 
feet  also  stand  true,  neither   toeing  in  nor  out.    When  toeing 


THE  DRAFT  TYPE 


97 


out  the  points  of  the  hock  come  too  close  together,  while  if 
toeing  in  notably  the  points  may  be  wide  apart  and  the  hocks 
appear  springy  and  weak  when  in  action.  The  hock  should  be 
supported  by  a  wide,  thin,  clean-boned  cannon  which  may  be 
about  1 1  inches  in  girth  at  its  smallest  point.  A  true  position 
of  the  hind  leg  may  be  ascertained  by  the  use  of  the  plumb  line 
which,  dropped  from  the  point  of  the  buttock  or  croup,  viewed 
from  behind,  should  pass  the  center  of  point  of  hock,  cannon, 
pastern,  and  foot.  From  one  side  it  should  pass  parallel  to  the 
entire  edge  of  the  cannon,  and  when  suspended  from  the  point 
of  the  hip,  should  pass  the  gaskin  at  the  center  and  drop  to  the 
center  of  the  foot. 

Draft-horse  measurements  of  special  interest  were  made  by 
Mr.  A.  H.  Snyder  of  the  Ohio  State  University,  College  of 
Agriculture,  under  the  direction  of  Professor  T.  F.  Hunt.  The 
following  table  shows  the  average  result  from  this  study. 


Kind  of  Measurements 


Number  horses  measured 

Weight 

Height  at  withers 

Height  at  croup 

From  point  shoulder  to  point  buttock 
From  lowest  point  chest  to  ground 
Circumference  of  body  at  girth   .     .     . 
Circumference  of  front  cannon  at  center 

Length  of  head 

Length  of  shoulder 

From  dorsal  angle  of  scapula  to  hip     . 
From  point  of  hock  to  ground     .     .     . 

Width  of  chest 

Width  of  hips 

Length  of  croup 


CHAPTER  XV 
THE  PERCHERON 

The  original  home  of  the  Percheron  horse  is  La  Perche,  France. 

For  many  centuries  draft  horses  have  been  bred  in  France.  The 
Percheron,  however,  has  developed  within  certain  limited  French 
territory.  In  northwestern  France,  bounded  on  one  side  by  the 
English  Channel,  is  a  district  known  as  Normandy.  It  com- 
prises nearly  seven  million  acres,  and  is  divided  into  five  depart- 
ments, —  La  Manche,  Calvados,  Orne,  Eure  et  Loir,  and  Sarthe. 
In  the  southeastern  part  of  Normandy,  and  extending  beyond 
its  borders,  is  what  might  be  termed  a  county  known  as  La 
Perche.  All  of  this  part  of  France  referred  to  has  from  time 
immemorial  been  a  famous  horse-producing  region,  and  many  of 
the  draft  type  of  French  horses  and  French  Coachers  that  are 
imported  to  America  come  from  this  section.  The  region  of  La 
Perche  is  about  fifty  by  sixty  miles  in  area,  and  is  rather  broken 
of  surface,  having  numerous  valleys  and  small  streams  of  water. 

The  origin  of  the  Percheron  breed  is  most  obscure.  For  many 
centuries  horses  of  a  draft  type  were  bred  in  the  vicinity  of  La 
Perche.  In  early  times  this  stock  was  without  doubt  typical  of 
the  heavy  draft  horse  generally  existing  in  northern  Europe,  and 
it  is  assumed  that  here  existed  the  foundation  stock  from  which 
the  modern  Percheron  is  developed.  Foreign  blood,  however,  has 
played  an  important  part  in  the  make-up  of  this  breed. 

The  improvement  of  the  early  Percheron  type  is  generally  cred- 
ited by  French  and  other  writers  to  the  use  of  the  horses  of  the 
Orient.  This  is  accounted  for  by  the  existence  of  large  numbers 
of  Arab  and  Barb  horses  in  France  at  the  time  of  the  Saracen 
invasion  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighth  century.  These  horses 
were  brought  from  the  East,  and  no  doubt  were  more  or  less 
crossed  upon  the  horses  of  La  Perche.  Two  government  studs 
were  established  in  the  eighteenth  century,  one  at  Le  Pin,  on  the 

98 


THE  PERCHERON 


99 


borders  of  La  Perche,  in  1 7 1 4,  and  the  other  at  Pompadour  in  1755. 
These  were  destroyed  during  the  revolution,  but  were  restored 
by  Napoleon  in  1806,  and  have  ever  since  remained  important 
breeding  studs,  where  the  Percheron  has  been  greatly  improved. 
About  1775  Madame  du  Barry,  of  Paris,  received  a  gift  of  a  pair  of 


Fig.  35.    A  fine  example  of  Percheron  type  and  character. 
From  photograph  by  John  W.  Hills 


Danish  horses.  These  became  popular,  and  later  others  of  the 
same  sort  were  taken  to  Normandy.  Then  English  stock  was 
introduced,  and  horses  also  came  in  from  adjoining  districts  and 
from  Belgium.  In  1 820  two  Arabian  stallions,  Godolphin  and  Gal- 
lipoli,  from  the  government  stud  at  Le  Pin,  were  used  on  French 
mares.  These  sires  were  gray,  and  no  doubt  had  considerable 
influence  in  developing  the  gray  color  among  the  horses  of  La 


IOO 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


Perche.    The  general  effect  of  this  Arabian  blood  on  the  French 
horse  has  been  to  impart  quality,  as  shown  in  superior  bone,  style, 

and  finish.  Gallipoli,  in  partic- 
ular, had  a  very  beneficial  in- 
fluence. Jean  Le  Blanc  (739), 
foaled  in  1823,  a  grandson  of 
Gallipoli,  is  regarded  as  hav- 
ing had  a  remarkable  influence 
on  the  breed  in  his  day. 

The  early  type  of  Percheron 
resulting  from  this  amalgama- 
tion of  races  was  not  so  large 
a  horse  as  is  known  to-day. 
The  farmer  of  La  Perche  re- 
quired a  horse  suited  to  gen- 
eral purposes,  so  the  early 
type  was  smaller  and  more 
active  of  foot  than  the  present- 
day  Percheron.  Either  under 
saddle  or  before  gig,  Per- 
cherons  trotted  with  consider- 
able speed.  Records  of 
Percherons  show  that  not  in- 
frequently they  have  trotted 
at  a  rate  of  about  a  mile  in  four  minutes.  Richardson  gives 
interesting  illustrations  of  the  ability  of  this  horse  to  travel  long 
distances  with  considerable  speed  : 

A  gray  mare  six  years  old  which  took  a  heavy  gig  56  miles  over  a  heavy 
road  in  4  hours  and  24  minutes  ;  and  another,  seven  years  old,  drew  an 
ordinary  country  gig  55  miles  in  4  hours,  1  minute,  35  seconds,  returning 
the  next  day  over  the  same  ground  in  4  hours,  1  minute,  30  seconds,  the  last 
14  miles  being  covered  in  1  hour,  and  neither  in  going  or  returning  was  she 
touched  with  the  whip. 

The  characteristics  of  this  early  type  showed  less  scale,  a 
lighter  weight,  with  a  height  ranging  from  15  to  16  hands.  It 
was  a  superior  general-purpose  horse  of  drafty  conformation, 
yet  lacking  large  size  and  heavy  weight.  This  type  met  with 
such    great   favor  that   buyers  from  various  parts   of   France, 


Fig.  36.  Orangiste  29606.  First-prize  three- 
year-old  Percheron  in  France  in  1902  at 
the  annual  show  at  Paris  and  at  the  show 
of  the  Societe  Hippique  Percheronne  at 
Nogent-le-Rotrou.  Also  first  prize  in 
class  at  International  Live  Stock  Expo- 
sition, Chicago,  1902.  Imported  by 
McLaughlin  Bros.  Photograph  taken  by 
James  B.  McLaughlin  in  France 


THE  PERCHERON 


IOI 


Germany,  and  elsewhere  began  to  draw  upon  La  Perche  for 
their  horse  stock. 

Percheron  deterioration  came  in  with  the  improvement  of  the 
breed.  Toward  the  close  of  the  first  third  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury the  demand  for  these  horses  in  La  Perche  became  so  great 
that  the  farmers  sold  their  best  brood  mares  and  stallions  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  require  their  replacement.  Not  enough 
good  Percherons  were  available,  so  that  other  French  races  were 
introduced.  Large  numbers  of  mares  similar  to  Percherons  in 
size  and  style  were  introduced  from  Brittany,  Picardy,  Boulogne, 
Caux,  and  elsewhere.  These  often  lacked  bone,  substance,  and 
quality.  With  the  improvement  of  highways  came  a  demand  for 
heavier  horses,  and  then  buyers  purchased  large  ones  to  meet 
the  increased  demand.  For  a  time  quality  was  sacrificed  for 
quantity,  the  heaviest  stallion  being  most  in  demand.  Many  of 
the  best  brood  mares  of  lighter  type  were  sacrificed,  thus  causing 
serious  deterioration.  This  condition  of  affairs  continued  for  some 
years,  until  breeders  recognized  the  absolute  necessity  of  superior 
type  and  quality  with  increased  size. 

The  type  of  Percheron  about  1877  is  thus  described  by  Rich- 
ardson, an  English  writer  who  was  familiar  with  these  horses 
in  their  native  home. 

The  characteristics  of  the  best 
horses  are  that  they  run  from  15 
to  16  hands  in  height;  the  head  is 
handsome,  though  perhaps  some- 
times heavy,  but  more  frequently 
as  fine  as  an  Arab's  ;  the  nostrils 
wide  ;  the  eye  large  and  expressive  ; 
the  forehead  broad  ;  ears  silky  ; 
neck  rather  short,  but  with  a  good 
crest ;  withers  high  ;  shoulders  long 
and  sloping ;  chest  rather  flat,  but 
broad  and  deep  ;  body  well  ribbed  ; 
loins  rather  long  ;  crupper  level  and 
muscular  ;  the  buttocks  often  high, 
leaving  a  depression  above  the 
junction  of  the  tail,  which  is  set  on 
high  ;  joints  short  and  strong  ;  the  tendons  often  weak  ;  legs  clean  and  free 
from  coarse  hair ;  feet  always  good,  though  rather  flat  when  reared  upon 
moist  pastures  ;    the  skin  fine,  and  mane  silky  and  abundant  ;    the  color 


Fig.  37.  Pyrrhus,  a  prize-winning  Percheron 
stallion  in  France  at  Nogent-le-Rotrou 
and  Vendome.  Photograph  taken  in 
France  by  James  B.  McLaughlin 


102  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

is  generally  gray,  but  there  are  some  grand  black  Percherons.  .  .  .  Docile, 
patient,  honest  workers,  very  hardy,  the  Percherons  are  unexcitable,  but 
active  and  cheerful,  rarely  showing  bad  temper,  and  very  free  from  natural 
blemish,  trotting  away  cheerfully  with  heavy  loads.  The  French  call  them 
the  best  draught  horses  in  the  world. 

Yet  even  when  Richardson  penned  this  (1877)  he  stated  that 
these  qualities  were  rarely  found  combined  in  any  of  the  Per- 
cheron  horses,  on  account  of  the  deteriorating  influences  already 
referred  to.    . 

The  more  approved  type  of  Percheron  to-day  calls  for  all  the 
best  features  in  the  model  draft  horse.  In  weight  mature  stal- 
lions usually  average  from  1700  to  2000  pounds,  and  mares 
from  1500  to  1800  pounds.  Exceptions,  however,  very  natu- 
rally occur.  Univers  33977  P.R.,  the  celebrated  show  stallion, 
weighed  in  show  form  about  2300  pounds,  while  Chichi  40072 
P.R.,  as  a  two-year-old  in  show  form,  weighed  2150  pounds.  A 
most  approved  weight  of  mature  mare  is  1650  pounds.  The 
height  of  stallions  ranges  from  15^  to  17  hands,  and  mares 
from  15^  to  16^.  Tall  Percherons  are  not  regarded  with  favor, 
a  lower  set  form  being  preferable.  The  color  is  usually  a  gray  or 
black,  but  bays  and  browns  occasionally  occur.  Fashion  has  caused 
some  changes  in  color  production,  there  having  been  periods 
when  grays  were  most  common,  while  later  blacks  were  much 
in  favor.  It  is  said  that  at  the  fair  at  Chartres,  France,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1877,  one  dealer  had  eighteen  blacks,  for  which  he  asked 
about  the  equivalent  of  $10,000  for  the  lot,  "and  they  were  well 
worth  it."  Grays  have  been  most  popular  in  the  United  States 
and  France,  and  dark  gray  may  be  regarded  as  a  typical  Percheron 
color.  However,  in  spite  of  the  criticism  of  black  as  a  horse  color, 
the  opening  years  of  the  twentieth  century  have  seen  a  great 
demand  for  black  Percherons  or  dark  iron  grays,  and  most  of  the 
horses  recently  imported  have  been  of  these  colors. 

The  body  of  the  Percheron  is  characteristically  compact  and 
blocky  of  form,  full  in  the  chest,  and  broad  of  back.  Horses  of 
the  breed,  however,  often  have  steep,  rather  short  rumps,  with 
the  tail  set  too  low,  and  even  with  the  best  specimens  the  type  of 
rump  tends  to  unnecessary  slope.  In  depth  and  fullness  of  body 
there  is  also  a  lack.    The  legs  and  feet  are  quite  distinctive  of 


THE  PERCHERON 


103 


the  breed.  No  more  shapely  and  well-developed  feet  are  found 
on  any  draft  horse  than  on  the  Perch eron.  The  bone  of  the  leg  is 
usually  superior,  but  the  cannons  are  not  infrequently  lacking  in 
breadth  and  flatness,  while  the  hocks  may  be  fuller  than  is  desir- 
able. The  clean  limbs,  free  of  long  hair,  account  for  much  of  the 
popularity  of  the  Percheron  in  America.  Percheron  action  at  a 
walk  is  reasonably  true  and  snappy.  The  trot,  with  good  repre- 
sentatives of  the  breed,  is  carried  with  vim  and  life,  the  knees 


Fig.  38.  Monaco  II.  A  capital  stamp  of  a  Percheron  stallion,  first  in  a  ring  of 
29  at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition,  Chicago,  1905.  Imported 
by  McLaughlin  Bros.    Photograph  by  the  author 


being  moved  strong  and  the  hocks  well  flexed.  The  Percheron 
may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  very  best  actors  among  the  draft 
breeds,  being  surpassed  only  by  the  Clydesdale.  The  Percheron 
head  and  neck  are  typical  of  the  most  attractive  draft-horse 
character.  The  eye  is  usually  full  and  prominent,  the  forehead 
broad  and  reasonably  full,  the  face  straight  or  slightly  dished 
above  the  nose,  the  jaw  strong,  the  ears  refined  and  attractively 
set  and  carried  with  animation.    The  graceful  neck  is  usually 


104  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

smoothly  blended  with  the  body  and  cleanly  attached  to  the  head, 
being  crowned  with  profuse  mane  and  foretop.  Those  things 
which  give  special  distinction  to  the  Percheron  breed  are  the 
head  and  neck  suggesting  the  Arabian,  the  blocky  body  and 
droopy  tendency  of  rump,  the  short  smooth  legs,  the  charac- 
teristic color,  and  the  superior  action.  As  a  draft  beast  the 
pure-bred  or  high-grade  Percheron  ranks  in  France  and  America 
at  the  very  front,  with  no  superior. 

The  improvement  of  the  Percheron  in  France  is  due  to  both 
public  and  private  methods.  The  government  for  over  a  century 
has  maintained  studs  in  which  select  animals  have  been  kept  for 
breeding  purposes.  The  best  horses  in  France  have  been  in  the 
past  and  are  at  present  reserved  by  the  government  for  home 
improvement.  In  addition  to  this,  subsidies  are  paid  private  indi- 
viduals to  keep  horses  of  merit  in  the  stud.  Animals  are  crit- 
ically inspected  by  government  veterinarians,  and  if  up  to  a 
certain  standard,  they  are  designated  as  subsidized,  and  a  cash 
bonus  is  paid  for  keeping  them  in  the  country  on  the  farm  of  the 
owner,  available  to  the  owners  of  mares.  This  bonus  ranges  from 
300  to  500  francs  ($60  to  $100)  per  year,  according  to  the 
breeding  and  excellence  of  the  stallion.  Horses  of  not  quite  so 
good  a  grade  are  authorized  after  passing  inspection,  and  the 
owners  are  given  a  card  which  is  a  government  recommendation 
of  the  sires  to  farmers.  A  third  class,  known  as  approved,  of 
which  there  are  but  few,  are  permitted  to  be  in  service,  but 
neither  bonus  nor  special  certificate  is  given  for  them. 

Since  1885  a  government  decree  has  excluded  from  public 
service  all  stallions  not  coming:  within  these  classes. 

The  Percheron  horse  society  of  France  (Societe  Hippique  Per- 
cheronne)  was  organized  in  1883,  and  its  purpose  has  been  to 
promote  the  purity  of  the  breed.  In  1890  this  society  passed  a 
rule  that  all  colts  must  be  entered  for  registry  between  the  ages 
of  three  and  six  months.  At  the  time  of  registration  a  veteri- 
narian appointed  by  the  society  is  required  to  brand  its  official 
mark  on  the  colt's  neck. 

American  Percheron  horse  associations  date  back  to  1876.  At 
this  time,  owing  to  the  common  usage  of  the  word  Norman,  it 
was  planned  to  organize  the  Norman  Horse  Association.    French 


THE  PERCHERON  105 

horses,  known  as  Normans,  had  been  used  in  the  West  some 
years,  for  as  far  back  as  1854  Dillon  &  Company,  of  Normal, 
Illinois,  showed  what  they  termed  Normans.  The  word  Per- 
cheron  was  also  in  use.  Mr.  J.  H.  Sanders  had  been  made  sec- 
retary of  the  new  association,  and  he  added  the  word  Percheron 
to  the  title,  so  that  it  read  Percheron-Norman  Horse  Associa- 
tion, and  his  action  was  approved.  This  was  followed  by  some 
members  withdrawing  and  organizing  the  National  Register  of 
Norman  Horses,  which  was  later  changed  to  the  National  Regis- 
ter of  French  Draft  Horses.  With  the  organization  in  France 
of  a  Percheron  society  the  word  Norman  was  dropped  from  the 
American  title,  in  order  to  correspond  with  that  of  the  French 
association.  The  career  of  the  American  Percheron  Horse 
Breeders'  Association  proved  rather  unsatisfactory  to  many  of 
its  members,  due  to  too  much  one-man  power  vested  in  its 
secretary.  This  resulted  in  the  organization,  in  1902,  of  the 
American  Percheron  Horse  Breeders'  and  Importers'  Associa- 
tion, with  headquarters  later  established  at  Chicago,  Illinois. 
In  1905  the  name  of  this  was  changed  to  the  Percheron 
Society  of  America.  There  was  also  organized  in  1902,  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  the  Percheron  Registry  Company.  More 
recently,  in  October,  1905,  another  association,  known  as  the 
American  Breeders'  and  Importers'  Percheron  Registry,  was  in- 
corporated, with  headquarters  at  Plainfield,  Ohio.  Each  of  these 
associations  was  organized  to  promote  the  breed  in  America,  to 
register  animals,  and  to  publish  studbooks.  The  old  association 
is  now  defunct,  but  the  other  three  are  actively  promoting 
the  breed. 

Percheron  studbooks  are  published  both  in  France  and 
America.  Volume  I  of  the  French  book  (Stud-Book  Percheron 
pub  lie  par  la  Societe '  Hippique  Percheronne)  first  appeared  in  1883, 
since  which  numerous  volumes  have  been  issued.  The  old  Per- 
cheron-Norman Horse  Association  published  two  volumes,  the 
first  appearing  in  1877.  Later,  with  the  change  of  name  to 
Percheron  Horse  Association  of  America,  three  more  volumes 
were  issued  under  the  name  of  the  Percheron  Studbook  of 
America.  In  1906  this  association  published  Volume  VI.  In 
1905  the  Percheron  Registry  Company  published  Volume  I. 


io6 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


The  introduction  of  the  Percheron  to  the  United  States  dates 
back  many  years.  French  horses  were  brought  to  America  as 
long  ago  as  1816,  when  a  stallion  was  taken  to  Quebec  and  later 
sold  to  go  to  Washington  County,  New  York.  It  has  been  as- 
sumed that  this  was  a  Norman  horse.  In  1839  tne  first  "genu- 
ine "  Percheron  importation  to  America  was  brought  over  by 
Edward  Harris  to  Moorestown,  New  Jersey.  This  importation 
consisted  of  one  stallion  and  two  mares.  The  stallion  died  at 
sea,  and  the  mares  were  unfortunate,  one  landing  in  poor 
health,  while  the  other  injured  herself  in  car  shipment,  necessi- 
tating   killing.     Mr.  Harris    at    once    returned    to   France   and 

imported  the  stallions  Dili- 
gence and  Bonaparte,  with 
several  mares.  These  were 
the  smaller  type  of  Percheron, 
standing  about  1 5  hands  high 
and  weighing  1200  to  1500 
pounds.  Diligence,  who  died 
in  i860,  was  regarded  as  a 
fine  specimen  of  the  breed. 

An  important  half  century 
of  Percheron  history  in  the 
United  States  began  in  185 1. 
At  this  time  Fullington  and 
Martin,  of  Milford  Center,  Ohio,  brought  to  that  state  the  first 
importation  to  the  West,  the  gray  colt  Louis  Napoleon.  He  was 
15^  hands  high  and  weighed  1600  pounds.  In  1856  A.  P.  Cush- 
man  of  Illinois  purchased  him.  Louis  Napoleon  proved  to  be  a 
great  breeder,  and  was  no  doubt  one  of  the  very  best  draft  horses 
ever  brought  to  America.  It  has  been  estimated  that  over  400 
of  his  sons  were  successful  stallions.  In  185  1  another  importa- 
tion was  also  brought  to  Ohio  by  Dr.  Marcus  Brown  of  Circle- 
ville.  He  imported  a  stallion  named  Normandy,  often  referred  to 
as  "Pleasant  Valley  Bill,"  "Old  Bill,"  or  "The  Valley  Horse." 
He  stood  1 5^  hands  high  and  weighed  about  1 500  pounds,  and  it  is 
said  that  for  eighteen  years  he  averaged  about  sixty  colts  a  year. 
Also  the  same  year  Captain  Samuel  Holmes,  of  Chester  Springs, 
Pennsylvania,  brought  two  stallions  from  France,  and  following 


T 

f 

Fig.  39.  Tenebreuse.  A  Percheron  mare 
owned  in  France.  Photograph  by  James 
B.  McLaughlin,  Columbus,  Ohio 


THE  PERCHERON  107 

these  two,  others  were  brought  over  for  John  J.  Parker  of  West 
Chester  and  Edward  Shippen  of  Meadville.  In  1856  Jordan  and 
Martin,  of  Woodstock,  Ohio,  imported  a  stallion  named  Rollin, 
which  was  not  long  after  sold  to  go  to  Illinois. 

Numerous  importations  followed  the  above.  In  1866  W.  T. 
Walters,  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  brought  over  several  mares  and 
stallions,  he  being  the  first  person  to  establish  an  important 
breeding  stud  in  America.  Mr.  Walters  had  lived  in  France  and 
had  studied  the  breed  there,  and  so  was  able  to  buy  to  advan- 
tage. In  1870  M.  W.  Dunham,  of  Wayne,  Illinois,  and  in  1874 
William  Singmaster,  of  Keota,  Iowa,  began  breeding  and  import- 
ing. They  both  became  famous  Percheron  authorities,  and  the 
studs  founded  by  them  are  still  in  existence.  Besides  these  the 
Stubblefields  of  Bloomington,  Ellis  Dillon  of  Normal,  and  Ezra 
Stetson  of  Neponset,  Illinois,  and  the  Fullingtons  of  Ohio  were 
early  breeders  and  importers. 

The  distribution  of  the  Percheron  in  America  is  widespread. 
Weld  estimates  that  in  1 S66  there  were  fully  five  thousand  Per- 
cherons  in  this  country,  but  no  doubt  many  of  these  were 
French  drafts  of  other  breeds.  The  leading  breeders  and  im- 
porters have  seemed  to  center  about  Illinois,  Ohio,  Iowa,  and 
Michigan,  with  small  studs  scattered  all  over  the  country,  but 
notably  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Between  185 1  and  1883 
nearly  four  thousand  Percherons  were  imported  or  bred  in  the 
United  States  of  which  a  more  or  less  correct  record  is  kept. 
These  were  widely  distributed,  Illinois  having  1834;  Ohio, 
Indiana,  and  Michigan  577;  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  and  Minnesota 
424  ;  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  Jersey  280  ;  and  Mis- 
souri, Kansas,  and  Nebraska  186.  In  the  early  eighties  many 
were  brought  over,  2600  being  reported  as  imported  or  home- 
bred in  188 1,  1882,  and  1883.  In  1884  more  than  two  thousand 
of  all  ages  were  brought  to  America  from  France.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  (1906)  importations  are  quite  active,  and  considerable 
shipments  of  stallions  are  being  made  to  states  in  the  Northwest 
and  on  the  Pacific  slope.  In  Canada  horses  of  this  breed  are  in 
use,  but  not  on  so  extensive  a  scale  as  the  British  draft  breeds. 

Cross-bred  or  grade  Percherons  are  very  common  in  America. 
In  fact  the  number  of  pure-bred  registered  mares  is  comparatively 


108  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

small.  Pure-bred  stallions  mated  to  the  larger  type  of  grade 
mares,  of  drafty  conformation,  furnish  most  of  our  best  draft 
teams.  Prepotent  Percheron  stallions  mated  to  mares  of  other 
draft  breeds  also  usually  give  satisfactory  results,  and  this  is  a 
favorite  combination  in  some  localities  where  legs  with  feather 
hairs  are  found  on  mares  of  Clyde  or  Shire  ancestry.  The  result- 
ing offspring  are  usually  smooth-legged  and  more  easily  satisfy 
the  common  market  demands.  In  the  South,  Curtis  has  not  re- 
ported so  favorably  on  the  mating  of  Percherons  on  native  mares, 
finding  that  the  "  half-blood  colts "  were  somewhat  prone  to 
bone  and  leg  diseases.  This,  however,  is  not  a  general  difficulty 
with  Percherons,  for  if  it  were  the  popularity  of  the  breed  would 
long  ago  have  suffered  severely.  The  most  prominent  buyers 
in  the  Chicago  horse  market  have  testified  in  the  highest  terms 
to  the  demand  for  Percheron  grades  and  crosses,  and  repeatedly 
grade  geldings  of  show-ring  form  have  sold  for  $500  per  head 
and  over. 

Famous  Percheron  sires.  Naturally  during  the  history  of  the 
breed  there  have  been  many  sires  of  excellence  in  America. 
Among  these  the  following  ten  stallions  may  be  regarded  as  of 
special  importance,  mainly  on  account  of  their  influence  as 
breeders,  although  some  of  them  were  famous  show  horses. 

Louis  Napoleon  281  :  foaled,  1848;  imported,  1851. 

Normandy  351    (also  known  as  Pleasant  Valley  Bill):  foaled,  1849;    ^m" 

ported,  1 85 1. 
Success  452  :  foaled,  1864  ;  imported,  1868. 
Vidocq  483  (732):  foaled,   1869;    imported,  1874;    sire,  Coco  II   (714); 

dam,  by  Cheri. 
Brillia7it  1271  (755):  foaled,  1876;    imported,  1881  ;    sire,  Brilliant  1899 

(756)  ;  dam,  Ragout,  by  Favori  I  (711). 
French  Monarch  205  (734):    foaled,  March,   1865;  imported,  1874;  sire, 

Ilderim  (5302)  ;  dam,  by  Vieux  Pierre  (894). 
Fenelon  2682   (38):    foaled,   1880;  imported,   1883;  sire,  Brilliant  1271  ; 

dam,  Ernestine,  by  Duke  of  Perche  173  (740). 
La  Ferte  5144  (452)  :  foaled,  1881  ;  imported,  1886;  sire,  Philibert  (760); 

dam,  Julie  (7594),  by  Brilliant  1899  (756). 
Gilbert  5154  (461):     foaled,   1882;    imported,    1886;    sire,  Brilliant  1271 

(755);  dam,  Sophie  (7694). 
SeducteurZ^o  (7057):  foaled,  1884;  imported,  1888;  sire,  Fenelon  2682 

(38)  ;  dam,  Rosalie  (5688)  by  Brilliant  1899  (756). 


THE  PERCHERON 


109 


Of  the  above  horses  Louis  Napoleon  and  Brilliant  were  prob- 
ably most  famous,  each  proving  remarkable  breeders,  although 
all  of  the  horses  in  question  stand  out  as  famous  sires. 

The  leading  Percheron  shows  in  France  are  held  under  different 
conditions.  Each  year  a  great  central  show  is  held  at  Paris. 
For  years  the  annual  Percheron  show  of  France  has  been  held 
in  a  migratory  way,  coming  back  to  the  same  locality  every 
twelve  years.  In  1905  it  was  held  at  Rouen.  The  Percheron 
Society  show  is  held  once  each  year  in  La  Perche  district,  at 
either  La  Ferte,  Mortagne,  or  Nogent-le-Rotrou. 

The  American  Percheron  shows  of  most  importance  are  held 
at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition,  Chicago,  the  Kansas 
City  Horse  Show,  and  the 
state  fairs  of  Ohio,  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Missouri,  Indiana,  Min- 
nesota, and  Wisconsin. 

Very  high  prices  for  Per- 
cherons  have  been  paid.  Mr. 
Dillon,  of  Illinois,  was  the  first 
importer  to  pay  as  much  as 
$1600  for  a  stallion  in  France, 
paying  this  price  in  1882.  The 
late  M.  W.  Dunham  years  ago 
made  one  sale  of  three  mares 
and  a  stallion  for  $10,000.  In 
1903    McLaughlin    Bros.,   of 

Ohio,  sold  the  stallion  Orangiste  29606  for  $5500,  and  a  month 
later  sold  Pour-Quoi-Pas  27248  for  $7000.  In  December,  1905, 
this  same  firm  sold  the  stallion  Rosenberg,  grand  champion 
Percheron  at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition,  for  $8000, 
the  highest  price  paid  for  a  draft  stallion  in  America.  McLaughlin 
Bros,  also  sold  Fronton  34289,  the  champion  stallion  of  the 
breed  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  for  $6500.  These 
represent  the  highest  prices  associated  with  this  breed. 

Percheron  geldings  are  great  favorites  in  the  horse  market  and 
many  very  high-class  ones  are  sold.  At  the  1905  International 
Exposition  the  six-horse  teams  of  geldings  exhibited  by  Armour 
&   Company   and   Pabst    Brewing    Company    caused    universal 


ISk 

^  iWpif  *■  :.m       '"HW 

§*'  jM^ 

"I 

Fig.  40.  Adrian.  A  Percheron  stallion 
showing  excellent  breed  type.  Photo- 
graph  from    James  B.  McLaughlin 


HO  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

admiration.  George,  owned  by  Pabst,  the  first-prize  gelding  of 
the  1904  exposition,  weighed  when  shown  2140  pounds.  In 
1905  the  Pabst  Brewing  Company  purchased  a  pair  of  geldings 
on  the  Chicago  horse  market,  paying  $1300  for  them,  the  highest 
price  thus  far  paid  for  such  a  team. 

The  present  popularity  of  the  Percheron  is  very  great.  While 
it  is  true  that  any  high-class  draft  horse  is  looked  on  with  favor 
in  the  market  and  readily  commands  a  good  price  this  breed  is 
an  American  favorite.  No  other  draft  breed  is  raised  pure  on 
so  large  a  scale  as  this.  Percheron  studs,  containing  pure-bred 
mares,  are  becoming  more  common  than  ever  before  in  the 
United  States.  The  large  number  of  horses  of  this  breed  seen 
at  the  shows,  attests  its  general  favor  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
In  the  horse  market  Percheron  blood  predominates.  This  popu- 
larity is  largely  due  to  docility,  intelligence,  activity,  heavy 
weight,  excellent  feet,  and  reliability  in  heavy  draft  work.  This 
prestige  bids  fair  to  remain  for  years  to  come. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE  FRENCH  DRAFT 

A  brief  consideration  of  the  French  Draft  horse  is  essential, 
although  no  recognized  breed  of  this  name  exists.  In  America 
it  has  been  customary  for  many  years  to  refer  to  draft  horses 
brought  from  France  as  French  Draft  horses.  Not  only  this,  but 
we  now  have  in  the  United  States  an  organization  which  registers 
draft  horses  from  France  in  a  French  Draft  studbook. 

Distinct  breeds  of  French  Draft  horses,  however,  are  we]l 
known,  and  in  France  are  clearly  recognized.  Years  ago  there 
was  some  confusion  among  importers  on  this  point,  but  at  the 
present  time  we  have  more  definite  knowledge  on  the  subject. 
All  heavy  horses  in  France  are  not  of  the  same  breed,  even  if 
brought  to  America  as  French  Draft.  It  is  quite  customary  to 
name  certain  European  breeds  after  the  localities  in  which  they 
received  their  chief  development,  and  this  applies  to  the  horses 
of  France.  It  is  extremely  doubtful  if  any  draft  horses  come  to 
this  country  from  France  that  cannot  be  properly  listed  as  belong- 
ing to  one  of  the  following  breeds,  which  essentially  represent 
the  characteristic  draft  breeds  of  that  country. 

1.  Percheron.  This  is  the  best-known  and  most  highly  devel- 
oped of  the  French  Draft  breeds.  For  an  extended  consideration 
of  the  breed,  see  Chapter  XV. 

2.  Boulonnais.  This  breed  is  largely  found  in  the  district  of 
Boulogne  in  northern  France  and  in  adjoining  Belgium,  deriving 
its  name  from  the  former.  The  breed  is  somewhat  larger  and 
coarser  than  the  Percheron,  is  coarser  of  neck,  steeper  and  squarer 
of  croup,  and  while  not  deficient  in  action,  shows  less  than  the 
Percheron.  The  color  is  variable,  though  frequently  gray  or 
white.  It  is  claimed  by  the  French  that  there  is  no  interchange 
between  the  horses  of  Boulogne  and  La  Perche,  and  that  the 
Boulonnais  has  mainly  been  improved  by   selection  and  care, 


1 1 2  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

though  it  is  suggested  that  some  improvement  may  have  come 
from  Percheron  blood.  The  breed  has  an  excellent  reputation  in 
France,  where  a  studbook  kept  in  its  interest  is  widely  used, 
and  the  Boulonnais  is  regarded  as  second  only  in  importance  to 
the  Percheron.  Prominent  importers  have  stated  that  Boulonnais 
horses  have  not  been  extensively  brought  to  America,  although 
no  doubt  they  are  well  represented  in  the  United  States  under 
the  names  of  Norman  or  French  Draft. 

3.  Breton.  This  breed  belongs  to  Brittany  in  extreme  west- 
ern France,  in  a  section  opposite  southwest  England,  from 
which  it  is  separated  by  the  English  Channel.  This  is  quite 
a  prominent  horse  section,  but  in  its  past  history  rather  mis- 
cellaneous breeding  has  been  resorted  to.  English,  Arabian, 
and  cross-bred  stallions  have  been  used,  and  more  recently 
Percheron.  Richardson,  in  discussing  these  horses  thirty  years 
ago,  says  : 

Though  larger  than  the  horses  of  the  center,  those  in  the  north  only  run 
from  14  hands  to  15.1,  having  improved  up  to  the  latter  point,  which  the 
best  horses  now  commonly  reach.  They  are  of  much  the  same  character  as 
the  Percheron ;  indeed,  there  has  been  a  continual  interchange  between  the 
two  districts,  and  the  color  is  chiefly  the  same  —  gray  ;  but  the  Breton  horse 
has  a  heavier  head,  more  hair  about  the  heels,  broader  feet,  a  heavier 
frame,  he  is  shorter  below  the  knee,  and  the  pasterns  are  shorter,  in  fact,  he 
shows  less  blood. 

In  the  past  large  numbers  of  weaned  foals  have  been  sold  to  go 
out  of  Brittany.  "  Nor,"  says  Richardson,  "  are  they  known  again 
as  Breton  horses.  The  grays  become  Percherons  and  the  bays 
Normans." 

Leading  Percheron  importers  claim  that  none  of  the  Bretons 
are  brought  to  America,  but  that  they  are  largely  used  for  omni- 
bus horses  in  Paris. 

4.  Nivemais.  This  breed  is  mainly  found  in  the  department 
of  Nievre  in  central  France.  It  is  a  somewhat  modern  black 
breed,  largely  the  result  of  using  black  Percheron  stallions  on 
the  mares  of  the  region,  which  are  hardly  as  large  as  Percherons. 
This  breed  has  not  been  imported  to  any  important  degree,  as  it 
does  not  exist  in  large  numbers  in  its  native  home,  this  region 
being  most  celebrated  for  its  cattle. 


THE  FRENCH  DRAFT  113 

5.  Ardennais.  This  is  a  native  of  Ardennes  on  the  Belgian 
frontier  in  northern  France.  It  has  been  described  as  a  small  type 
of  Belgian,  and  is  probably  not  much  imported. 

6.  Picardy.  French  authorities  rather  class  this  as  the  Flem- 
ish horse,  very  large  and  generally  bay  in  color.  It  is  bred  in 
northern  France  and  Belgium,  and  is  in  fact  the  Belgian  breed, 
though  M.  La  Motte  Rouge,  who  was  for  many  years  employed 
in  the  government  studs  of  France,  claims  that  the  Picardy  is  in 
fact  a  variety  of  Boulonnais. 

Of  the  above  breeds  the  first  three  are  the  only  ones  of 
importance  as  possibly  affecting  American  trade. 

The  National  French  Draft  Horse  Association  of  America  pub- 
lishes a  studbook  in  which  may  be  registered  any  of  the  above- 
named  draft  horses,  irrespective  of  breed.  This  association  was 
first  organized  as  the  National  Norman  Horse  Association  in  1876, 
but  in  1885  its  title  was  changed  to  the  National  French  Draft 
Horse  Association.  This  was  entirely  correct,  as  there  is  no 
such  breed  of  horses  in  France  as  Norman,  notwithstanding  the 
current  use  of  this  word  in  America  for  over  half  a  century. 
Thus  far  this  association  has  published  eight  studbooks. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE  CLYDESDALE 

The  Clydesdale  is  the  recognized  draft  breed  of  Scotland  and 
stands  to-day  in  great  degree  as  the  product  of  Scotch  breeders. 

The  early  history  of  the  Clydesdale  is  veiled  in  more  or  less 
obscurity.  Scotch  writers  on  the  horse  state  that  in  the  seven- 
teenth and  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  there  was 
doubtless  an  interchange  of  draft-horse  blood  between  Scotland 
and  England.  Scotch  cattle  dealers  driving  herds  into  England 
returned  north  with  English  mares  which  were  bred  to  stallions 
in  the  northland.  This  was  prior  to  the  use  of  the  word 
Clydesdale.  Claims  have  been  made  that  the  Duke  of  Hamil- 
ton brought  black  stallions  from  Flanders  in  Belgium  to  Scot- 
land about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  bred 
them  to  the  native  Scotch  mares.  This,  however,  is  traditional. 
Undoubtedly  very  mixed  blood  was  in  the  early  breeding. 

The  origin  of  the  modern  Clydesdale  seems  to  trace  back  to 
about  17 1 5  or  1720.  John  Paterson  was  a  tenant  farmer  of 
Lochlyoch  in  Carmichael  parish  in  the  county  of  Lanark.  This 
county  is  in  southern  Scotland,  and  through  its  center  flows  the 
river  Clyde,  from  which  the  name  Clydesdale  is  derived.  Written 
testimony  of  the  family  shows  that  at  about  the  above-referred- 
to  period  Paterson  brought  a  Flemish  stallion  from  England  to 
Lochlyoch,  which  was  bred  to  the  mares  in  the  region  there- 
abouts. The  result  of  this  union  created  a  superior  strain  of 
draft  horses  for  that  time,  and  they  met  with  special  favor  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  and  the  early  part  of  the  nine- 
teenth century.  Breeders  valued  the  influence  of  the  Lochlyoch 
blood,  and  this  is  now  regarded  as  essentially  Clydesdale  founda- 
tion stock.  The  mares  descended  from  this  Flemish  stallion  are 
described  as  "  generally  browns  and  blacks,  with  white  faces 
and  a  little  white  on  their  legs  ;  they  had  gray  hairs  in  their 

114 


THE  CLYDESDALE  115 

tails,  along  with  occasional  gray  hairs  over  their  bodies,  and 
invariably  a  white  spot  on  their  belly,  this  latter  being  regarded 
as  a  mark,  of  distinct  purity  of  blood." 

The  use  of  English  blood  on  the  Clydesdale,  following  the  days 
of  Paterson  up  to  comparatively  recent  times,  is  admitted  by 
Professor  Wallace,  a  leading  Scotch  authority.  Tintock,  a  Shire 
stallion,  along  about   i860  was  used  in  Scotland  on  Clydesdale 


Fig.  41.  His  Royal  Highness.  Junior  champion  Clydesdale  stallion  at  Louisi- 
ana Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Bred  and  owned  by  McLay  Bros.,  Janes- 
ville,  Wisconsin.    Photograph  from  owners 

mares,  producing  very  excellent  breeding  females.  The  grandams 
of  the  Prince  of  Wales  were  both  Shires  of  English  blood.  In 
1842  Professor  Low  commented  on  the  distribution  of  the  breed, 
and  stated  that  they  "  have  been  mixed  in  blood  with  all  the 
other  varieties."  During  recent  years,  however,  the  Clydesdale 
has  been  maintained  as  a  pure  breed. 

Important  Clydesdale  sires,  other  than  the  Flemish  stallion  of 
Paterson,  date  back  to  early  in  the  nineteenth  century.    The  first 


Il6  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

of  distinction  was  Glancer  (335),  alias  Thompson's  Black  Horse. 
The  Scotch  studbook  states  that  he  was  foaled  about  18 10, 
but  this  date  is  questioned.  The  story  is  that  Glancer  was  sired 
by  a  black  stallion  named  Blaze,  bought  in  Ayrshire  about 
1780  and  taken  to  Lanark  for  service.  He  was  a  stallion  161 
hands  high,  perhaps  had  some  coach  blood,  and  possessed  both 
style  and  action.  Blaze  in  service  to  a  mare  known  as  the 
Lampits  mare,  on  the  Lampits  farm  in  Lanark,  sired  Glancer. 
The  result  of  this  union  became  more  than  locally  famous,  for 
from  him  "  nearly  all  the  best  animals  of  the  present  day  are 
descended,"  says  the  American  Clydesdale  Studbook.  dan- 
cer's dam,  which  died  in  1827,  was  a  famous  brood  mare,  having 
produced  other  superior  foals. 

Broomfield  Champion  (95)  was  a  notable  stallion  following 
Glancer  (335).  He  sired  Clyde  alias  Glancer  (153),  Glancer 
(338),  Bowman's  Colt  (1078),  and  a  number  of  great  brood  mares. 
Some  of  his  offspring  were  successful  in  the  show  ring,  but  his 
chief  distinction  comes  from  being  the  sire  of  Glancer  (153). 
Broomfield  Champion  was  brown  with  white  hind  pasterns  and  a 
narrow  white  streak  on  the  face.  His  name  is  most  frequent  in 
early  Clydesdale  pedigrees. 

Clyde,  alias  Glancer  ( 1 5  3),  was  owned  by  William  Fulton  of  Ren- 
frew County,  a  noted  breeder,  and  was  bred  by  Mr.  Forest  of 
Lanark  County.  Though  not  a  show  animal  himself,  from  1844 
to  1850  the  leading  honors  of  Scotch  exhibitions  went  to  the 
produce  of  Clyde.  He  was  dark  brown  in  color  and,  having  been 
ruptured,  was  known  as  "  The  Ruptured  Horse."  Seven  sons 
and  one  daughter  of  his  are  recorded  in  the  first  volume  of  the 
Scotch  Clydesdale  Studbook.  Most  of  these  sons  proved  later 
to  be  sires  of  great  merit,  and  were  used  in  various  localities  in 
improving  the  breed. 

Prince  of  Wales  (673),  foaled  in  1866,  bred  by  James  N. 
Fleming  of  the  county  of  Ayr,  and  later  owned  by  several  dif- 
ferent persons,  was  one  of  the  two  greatest  Clydesdales  in  recent 
history.  He  was  sired  by  General  (322),  whose  sire  was  Sir  Walter 
Scott  (797),  a  great  show  horse  and  breeder,  while  his  dam  was 
Darling,  a  mare  of  unknown  breeding  beyond  one  generation. 
Prince  of  Wales  was  a  dark  brown  horse  with  a  white  stripe  on 


THE  CLYDESDALE 


117 


his  face  and  more  or  less  white  on  three  legs.  He  was  some- 
what straight  in  his  hocks  and  a  bit  Roman-nosed,  but  in  general 
was  of  good  form  and  a  remarkable  mover  at  walk  or  trot.  He 
was  not  only  a  great  show  horse,  but  was  regarded  as  one  of 
the  greatest  breeders  of  sires  that  the  Clydesdale  breed  has  pro- 
duced. Prince  of  Wales  was  last  owned  by  David  Riddell,  of 
Paisley,  who  purchased  him  at  auction  when  eighteen  years  old 


Fig.  42.  Baron  Alister.  Clydesdale  stallion,  champion  in  1904  at  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  Show  of  England.  Exhibited  by  A.  &  W.  Mont- 
gomery, Scotland.  Photograph  from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews, 
Berkhamsted,  England 


for  $4725,  and  in  whose  possession  he  died  in  1888.  Prominent 
among  his  sons  are  Prince  of  Albion,  sold  for  $15,000;  his  full 
brother,  Prince  of  Kyle,  sold  for  $8000  ;  Prince  Alexander,  sold 
for  $6000  as  a  yearling ;  and  Prince  Robert. 

Darn  ley  (222),  foaled  in  1872,  a  bay,  was  bred  by  Sir  William 
Sterling-Maxwell  and  was  purchased  when  three  years  old  by 
David  Riddell,  the  owner  of  Prince  of  Wales.  His  sire  was 
Conqueror  (199);  and  his  dam,  Keir  Peggy  (187),   had  a  fine 


Il8  THE   HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

show-yard  record,  and  as  a  dam  of  ten  foals  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  greatest  mares  of  the  breed.  Her  sons,  Darnley,  Pollock,  and 
Newstead,  all  won  first  prizes  at  the  Highland  and  Agricultural 
Society  shows.  She  died  in  1888.  Darnley  himself  had  a  most 
distinguished  career  in  the  show  ring  up  to  twelve  years  of  age. 
If  Prince  of  Wales  was  a  great  stallion  sire,  so  Darnley  was  a 
famous  sire  of  mares.  The  descendants  of  these  two  animals 
mated  unusually  well,  and  from  their  union  has  resulted  much 
that  is  best  in  recent  Clydesdale  blood.  Three  of  Darnley's  best 
sons  were  MacGregor  (1487),  Flashwood  (3604),  and  Topgallant 
(1850).  These  were  all  great  horses,  but  especially  so  was  Mac- 
Gregor, whose  sons  gained  fame  in  the  show  rings  of  Canada 
and  the  United  States.  As  a  breeder  this  animal  is  regarded  as 
second  only  to  his  sire  and  Prince  of  Wales. 

Barons  Pride  (9122),  sired  by  Sir  Everard  (5353),  a  son  of 
Topgallant  (1850),  represents  the  most  distinguished  of  recent 
Clydesdale  sires.  He  proved  a  fine  show  horse,  while  his  get 
have  been  most  successful.  His  son  Benedict  (103 15)  9300  was 
a  successful  show  horse  in  Scotland,  and  was  imported  to  the 
United  States  in  1900  by  Brookside  Farm,  Fort  Wayne,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  stood  at  the  head  of  that  famous  Clydesdale  stud 
till  December,  1904,  when  he  was  sold  to  Scotch  buyers  and 
returned  to  Scotland. 

Other  Clydesdale  sires  that  have  performed  an  important  part 
in  the  history  of  the  breed  in  Scotland  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  nineteenth  century  make  a  considerable  list.  Those  worthy 
of  special  mention  are  Lord  Erskine  (144),  by  Boydston  Boy, 
foaled  in  1879;  Farmer  (286),  by  Merry  Tom  (536),  foaled  in 
1869;  Merry  Tom  (536),  by  Rob  Roy  (714),  foaled  in  i860; 
Lord  Lyon  (489),  by  Hercules  (378),  foaled  in  1867;  Old  Times 
(579)>  by  Lord  Clyde  (478),  foaled  in  1869;  Lochfergus  Cham- 
pion (449),  by  Glancer  (338),  foaled  in  1861  ;  Topsman  (886), 
by  Wonderful  (915),  foaled  in  1869. 

Clydesdale  characteristics.  This  breed  of  draft  horses  possesses 
certain  features  of  a  distinctive  kind,  on  which  loyal  Scotchmen 
lay  great  emphasis.  The  feet  and  bone  and  action  are  cardinal 
points  with  Clydesdale  breeders.  The  feet  must  be  large,  round, 
and  open,  with  an  elastic  frog  and  well-spread,  clearly  expressed 


THE  CLYDESDALE 


119 


heel ;  the  coronet  wide  ;  the  pasterns  fairly  long  and  rather  slop- 
ing ;  the  cannons  short,  flat,  hard,  and  cordy ;  and  the  fore  arms, 
arms,  thighs,  and  quarters  notably  muscled  and  strong.  From 
the  back  side  of  the  leg  at  the  cannons  should  grow  an  abun- 
dance of  long,  fine  hair,  a  striking  feature  in  the  best  specimens 
of  Clydesdales,  indicative  of  quality.  White  feet,  though  com- 
mon, are  objectionable,  since  they  lack  the  density  and  wearing 
power  of  dark  feet,  and  there  is  a  distinct  objection  to  them 
in  the  Argentine  and  elsewhere.  Emphasis  is  laid  on  the  full- 
ness of  the  feet,  the 
obliqueness  of  the  pas- 
tern, and  the  flatness 
and  cleanness  of  bone 
of  lower  leg.  The  body 
of  the  Clydesdale  has 
been  most  subject  to 
criticism  in  the  past, 
lacking  in  depth  and 
circumference  when  it 
should  have  fullness  as 
showing  both  feeding 
capacity  and  weight  to 
draw  loads.  Good 
horse  critics  still  insist 
that  this  deficiency  of 
form  is  still  too  prev- 
alent with  this  breed. 
The  shoulder  is  rather 
oblique,  with  high  withers,  being  superior  in  this  respect  among 
the  draft  breeds.  The  chest  is  narrower  than  with  other  drafters, 
a  very  wide  chest  being  regarded  as  objectionable,  giving  less 
action  and  more  of  a  paddling  gait  than  is  consistent  with  smooth, 
true  movement.  The  action  of  the  Clydesdale  is  notable,  not 
being  surpassed  by  any  breed.  Says  Alexander  Galbraith,  an 
acknowledged  Scotch-American  authority  on  this  breed  : 

Great  attention  has  been  paid  by  the  Scottish  breeders  during  the  last 
twenty  or  thirty  years  to  the  matter  of  action.  No  other  draft  breed  has 
received  one  half  the  attention  that  the  Clydesdale  has  in  this  respect,  and 


Fig.  43.  Benedict  9300,  a  Clydesdale  stallion  im- 
ported to  America  by  Brookside  Farm,  Ft.  Wayne, 
Indiana.  In  1904  bought  by  Montgomery  Bros., 
of  Scotland,  and  returned  to  that  country.  One  of 
the  greatest  sires  among  modern  Clydesdales. 
Photograph  by  the  author 


120  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

for  that  reason  they  far  surpass  all  others  in  length  of  stride,  in  straightness 
and  sprightliness  of  movement,  in  their  ability  to  keep  their  hocks  together, 
with  mechanical  accuracy  of  motion,  whether  walking  or  trotting. 

The  head  of  this  breed  does  not  differ  essentially  in  its  require- 
ments from  a  correct  conformation.  The  writer  discussing  the 
Clydesdale  in  Heavy  Horses  (1894)  notes  some  peculiarities  of 
the  head  worth  recording  here  : 

A  tendency  to  "  dish  face  "  may  be  observed  in  some  tribes,  and  this  is 
generally  accompanied  by  a  small  ear  and  what,  in  the  main,  is  characterized 
as  a  "  pony  head."  Wherever  this  style  predominates  there  is  probably  a 
strain  of  Highland  or  old  Galloway  in  the  blood.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
hard,  narrow  face  and  Roman  nose  are  regarded  as  equally  if  not  more 
objectionable.  Such  features  are  usually  indicative  of  a  strain  of  Shire 
blood  and,  indeed,  they  are  not  otherwise  to  be  accounted  for  in  the  Clydes- 
dale. An  open,  level  countenance,  vigorous  eye,  and  large  ear  are  greatly 
valued,  and  are  not  readily  sacrificed. 

The  height  of  the  fully  developed  stallion  is  about  i6h  hands, 
with  the  mares  from  one  to  two  inches  less.  Prince  of  Albion 
(6178)  and  Flash  wood  (3604),  two  nearly  model  specimens  of 
the  breed,  stood  i6f  and  17  hands  respectively.  Weights  of 
2000  pounds  for  the  stallion  and  1800  for  the  mare  represent 
good  standards,  though  somewhat  above  the  average.  The 
standard  color  markings  are  bay  or  brown,  with  a  white  star  or 
blaze  on  the  forehead  or  face,  and  with  all  or  part  of  the  legs,  up 
to  the  knees  and  hocks,  white.  There  are  also  occasional  blacks, 
grays,  or  chestnuts.  Gray  is  unpopular  and  chestnut  indicates 
Shire  blood. 

The  first  Clydesdales  brought  to  America  were  probably  taken 
to  Canada,  doubtless  on  account  of  the  love  of  Scotch  settlers 
there  for  their  favorite  breed.  The  following  represent  the  earlier 
importations,  the  first  occurring  in  1842  :  Gray  Clyde  78,  importer, 
Archibald  Ward,  Markham,  Ontario,  1842;  Sovereign  181, 
importer,  R.  Johnson,  Scarborough,  Ontario,  1845  \  Cumber- 
land 106,  importer,  David  Roundtree,  Jr.,  Weston,  Ontario, 
1850;  George  Buchanan  182,  importer,  John  Wilson,  Oshawa, 
Ontario,  185 1  ;  Bay  Wallace  5,  importer,  William  Cochrane, 
Claremont,  Ontario,  1854. 

Along  in  the  seventies  Clydesdales  were  brought  to  the  United 
States   in   a   small   way,   both    through    Canada   and   by  direct 


THE  CLYDESDALE 


121 


importation.  In  the  early  eighties  they  were  brought  over  in 
larger  numbers,  especially  in  1881,  and  between  then  and  1892 
the  trade  increased  greatly  and  several  thousand  stallions  and 
mares  were  brought  across  the  water  and  distributed  over  the 
country. 

Clydesdales  of  merit  in  America  date  back  to  their  early  impor- 
tation.   Of  these  the  following  may  be  mentioned  as  of  special 


Fig.  44.  Princess  Handsome.  One  of  the  notable  American-bred  Clydesdale 
mares.  First-prize  winner  at  International  Live  Stock  Exposition,  Chi- 
cago, in  1 90 1,  1902,  and  1903.  Bred  and  owned  by  McLay  Bros.,  Janes- 
ville,  Wisconsin.    Photograph  from  owners 

distinction  :  Donald  Dinnie  273,  by  Glancer  (339)  ;  Johnny  Cope 
(416),  by  Justice  (420);  Glencoe  158,  by  Prince  of  Wales  487 
(67 3) ;  MacQueen  35 13,  by  MacGregor  ( 1 48 7) ;  Cedric  929  (1 08 7), 
by  Prince  of  Wales  487  (673)  ;  Loi'd  Lyndoch  41 13  (4530),  by 
Lord  Blantyne  (2243)  ;  Lyndoch  Chief  5642,  by  Lord  Lyndoch 
4IJ3  (453°);  Young  MacQueen  8033,  by  MacQueen  3513 
(5200)  ;  Laminated  Steel  %joo,  by  Cedric  929  (1087)  ;  Benedict 
9300  (103 1 5),  by  Baron's  Pride  (9122). 


122 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


Some  prominent  early  introducers  of  the  Clydesdale  to  the 
United  States  were  Powell  Bros.,  Springboro,  Pennsylvania ; 
Robert  Holloway,  Alexis,  Illinois;  Galbraith  Bros.,  Janesville, 
Wisconsin  ;  N.  P.  Clarke,  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota  ;  Brookside  Farm, 
Fort  Wayne,  Indiana. 

The  American  Clydesdale  Horse  Association  was  organized  in 
1877,  and  up  to  January  1,  1905,  had  published  twelve  volumes 
of  studbooks,  covering  about  12,000  registrations. 

The  Scotch  Clydesdale  Horse  Society  was  organized  in  1878  and 
had  published  twenty-eight  studbooks  up  to  and  including  1905. 


;&\ 

•Mil 

i^ntv^n  KB  flu. 

■    i  inn"   *      '"'vnEHEBsHl 

fin, 

1  -   JtP '  ffi^K^fl^^^BJ 

■         -  - 

J            M     \ 

BRagS'     JE-t  -■  ^Sowfly  jH 

\.«v  -  • 

Fig.  45.    Clydesdale  foals  bred  and  owned  by  McLay  Bros.,  Janesville, 
Wisconsin.    Photograph  from  the  owners 

This  society  has  registered  within  this  period  over  13,000  stallions 
and  over  17,000  mares. 

The  distribution  of  the  Clydesdale  as  a  breed  is  very  wide- 
spread, but  it  has  found  most  favor  in  English-speaking  coun- 
tries, notably  Canada,  Australia,  and  New  Zealand,  though  it  is 
also  used  in  Germany,  Russia,  Sweden,  Cape  Colony,  and  Argen- 
tine Republic.  In  the  United  States  it  has  found  the  most  favor 
in  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley,  between  Indiana  and  Nebraska. 


THE  CLYDESDALE 


123 


As  might  be  supposed,  this  breed  finds  its  greatest  champions 
among  the  Scotch-Americans. 

Half-bred  or  grade  Clydesdales  are  not  uncommon  in  some  sec- 
tions of  the  country.  Pure-bred  stallions  on  native  mares  of  draft 
character  produce  excellent  horses  for  farm  or  city  work.  They 
are  usually  of  medium  draft  weight,  are  active  on  foot,  and  are 
quiet  and  docile  of  temperament.  They  frequently  lack  weight 
for  the  heaviest  work,  which  emphasizes  the  necessity  of  using 
only  such  stallions  for  sires  as  have  plenty  of  middle,  as  well  as 
quality  and  bone. 

High  prices  for  Clydesdales  are  more  common  in  Scotland  than 
in  America.  Prince  of  Albion  (6178)  is  said  to  have  sold  for 
^3000  ($15,000),  Prince  of  Kyle  for  $8000,  and  Prince  Alexan- 
der (8899)  for  $6000.  The  highest  price  ever  paid  for  a  two- 
year-old  filly  was  1000  guineas  ($5000)  for  Montrave  Rosea  by 
Prince  of  Albion. 

Criticisms  of  the  Clydesdale  are  not  uncommon  among  horse- 
men. The  hairy  legs  are  objected  to  by  farmers  who  find  it 
necessary  to  use  them  on  dirt  roads  or  under  conditions  in  which 
mud  or  dampness  are  prevalent  in  the  cooler  months  of  the 
year.  The  Scotchman  argues  that  the  hair  protects  the  skin  of 
the  leg,  and  is  an  evidence  of  superior  bone.  In  spite  of  this 
assertion  the  average  buyer  prefers  a  horse  with  a  leg  free  from 
superfluous  hair.  On  a  city  pavement  or  on  the  hard  macadam- 
ized roads  of  Europe  the  hair  is  not  so  objectionable. 

The  shortness  of  rib  of  this  breed,  with  a  tendency  to  rangi- 
ness  of  body,  has  also  counted  against  it  in  the  past.  A  short 
coupling  and  broad,  deep  body  must  be  a  part  of  the  best  draft 
type,  to  give  the  necessary  weight  for  hauling  heavy  loads.  The 
more  recent  show  horses  are  distinctly  deeper  of  rib  and  meet 
with  a  more  favorable  reception  by  horsemen  generally. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

THE  SHIRE 

The  very  early  history  of  the  Shire  horse  traces  back  into  the 
days  of  Roman  conquest  and  almost  prehistoric  times.  Abun- 
dant evidence,  as  set  forth  in  British  history  by  the  earliest 
writers,  makes  it  clear  that  a  heavy  type  of  work  horse  existed 
in  those  days.  During  the  period  when  armor  was  worn  it  was 
necessary  that  a  horse  be  of  good  size  and  be  able  easily  to  bear 
heavy  weight  in  the  saddle.  In  the  sixteenth  century  in  Eng- 
land, when  armor  was  used,  according  to  Tower  of  London  officials 
a  man's  armor  weighed  99^  pounds,  the  horse's  81  pounds,  and 
the  spear  20,  a  total  of  200  pounds  approximately.  Adding  to  this 
the  weight  of  a  man,  the  horse  had  to  support  nearly  400  pounds. 

Various  early  paintings  show  the  draft  type  of  horse  in  use. 
Albert  Diirer,  in  1505,  made  a  painting  of  "The  Great  Horse," 
as  it  was  termed.  Vandyke,  about  1620,  painted  a  picture  show- 
ing the  Duke  of  Arenburg  on  a  great  horse.  A  famous  painting 
by  Paul  Potter  shows  the  great  horse  about  1652. 

The  special  region  of  Shire  horse  breeding  in  England  has  been 
in  the  east  central  part,  especially  in  the  counties  of  Lincoln, 
Cambridge,  Huntingdon,  Northampton,  Leicester,  Nottingham, 
Derby,  and  Norwich.  However,  the  breed  has  been  extensively 
produced  on  the  low-lying  lands  outside  this  area.  During  its 
past  history  it  has  been  known  in  England  as  the  "  Great 
Horse,"  the  "War  Horse,"  the  "Cart  Horse,"  "Old  English 
Black  Horse,"  "Giant  Lincolnshire,"  and  the  "Shire."  The 
name  "  Large  Black  Old  English  Horse  "  was  in  use  from  the 
time  of  Oliver  Cromwell  to  modern  times. 

The  real  origin  of  the  Shire  is  fairly  speculative.  It  is  known 
that  horses  of  this  large  draft  type  existed  in  England  from 
very  early  times.  We  are  told  that  a  large  drafc  type  of  horse 
existed   in   Flanders,   Holland,  and   in   Germany,   in   the  valley 

124 


THE  SHIRE  125 

of  the  Elbe,  and  that  one  hundred  stallions  were  brought  to 
England  from  these  countries  as  early  as  the  twelfth  century. 
These  were  used  on  the  English  horses  of  large  type.  Referring 
to  the  great  paintings  of  cattle  and  sheep  made  by  Paul  Potter, 
who  died  in  Amsterdam,  Holland,  in  1654,  Sir  Walter  Gilbey 
says  :  "  It  is  only  reasonable  to  suppose  that  he  exercised  equal 
care  in  painting  horses.  The  strain  of  North  German  and 
Flanders  blood  was  at  this  period  so  strongly  represented  in 
our  English  Great  Horses  of  the  best  stamp  that  we  need  not 
inquire  whether  this  horse  was  of  German,  Flemish,  or  English 
origin,  the  character  of  all  being  practically  the  same."  Thus 
no  doubt  the  early  Shire  was  of  very  mixed  breeding. 

Robert  Bakewell  improved  the  Shire  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  though  it  was  then  known  as  the  Leices- 
tershire Cart  Horse.  Bakewell  was  one  of  the  earliest  important 
improvers  of  the  English  Shire  horse.  He  went  to  Holland  and 
imported  mares,  using  them  in  systematic  crossing  with  Eng- 
lish stallions.  He  pursued  a  careful  course  of  selection  and 
added  to  the  value  of  the  breed.  It  was  during  this  century  that 
this  class  of  horses  came  into  use  for  draft  and  farming  purposes, 
the  coat  of  armor  having  become  obsolete.  With  the  improve- 
ment of  roads  and  the  use  of  coaches  the  draft  horse  came  into 
special  demand.  Gilbey,  in  his  interesting  historical  work  on 
The  Great  Horse,  gives  copies  of  pictures  of  Shire  horses  : 
one,  the  horse  Elephant,  by  an  unknown  artist  about  1792  ; 
another,  a  gelding  in  use  by  a  brewery  in  1792,  painted  by 
Garrard  ;  and  a  third,  of  two  horses,  Pirate  and  Outlaw,  painted 
in  18 10  by  Zeitter.  These  horses  are  all  of  draft  character,  with 
hairy  legs,  mane,  and  tail. 

The  old-fashioned  type  of  Shire  was  large,  coarse,  and  slow. 
They  had  big  heads,  coarse  ears,  and  their  thick  lips  had  long 
hairs  on  them.  The  shoulders  were  heavy,  the  legs  hairy,  and 
the  pasterns  straight.  Their  action  was  sluggish,  but  their  tem- 
perament was  mild.  Excess  of  hair  seemed  a  characteristic,  as 
based   on   some  of  the  pictures  extant.     In    1842   Low  wrote  : 

The  modern  English  black  horse  retains  the  general  characteristics  of 
the  preexisting  race,  but  greatly  modified.  His  color  is  usually  a  sooty 
black,  with  frequently  a  white  lozenge-shaped  mark  on  the  forehead  ;  and 


126  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

he  has  very  generally  one  or  more  of  the  feet  and  part  of  the  legs,  and  not 
unfrequently  the  muzzle,  white.  His  body  is  massive,  compact,  and  round  ; 
his  limbs  are  stout,  his  chest  is  enormously  broad,  and  his  neck  and  back 
are  short.  His  mane  is  thick  and  somewhat  frizzled,  and  his  legs  below 
the  knee  and  hock  are  hairy  down  to  the  heels.  His  whole  aspect  conveys 
the  idea  of  great  physical  power  without  corresponding  action.  The  main 
defects  of  this  conformation  and  temperament  are  his  too  great  bulk  of  body 
and  want  of  action  and  mettle.   For  a  pull  with  a  heavy  weight  he  is  admirable. 

Different  varieties  of  the  Shire  formerly  existed  in  England  ; 
some  have  said  two,  others  three.  In  the  first  Shire  Studbook 
Dr.  Reynolds  groups  the  breed  into  three  varieties,  viz. : 

( i )  Those  having  the  upper  lip  garnished  with  a  long,  thick  moustache,  con- 
sidered at  one  time  a  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the  Lincolnshire  horse. 

(2)  Horses  having  the  lips,  muzzle,  and  eyelids  destitute  of  the  hair. 
The  skin  in  these  places  is  either  entirely  bald  or  covered  with  exceedingly 
fine  down,  is  almost  invariably  flesh  colored,  and  is  sometimes  marked  with 
small  dark  spots  and  blotches.    These  are  termed  bald  horses  or  bald  faced. 

(3)  Those  having  a  long  tuft  of  hair  growing  from  the  front  of  each 
knee,  and  rarer  examples  having  also  a  similar  growth  from  the  hind  part 
of  the  hock,  just  below  its  point.  This  is  quite  different  from  the  ordinary 
hair  on  the  back  of  the  cannons. 

It  is  also  to  be  noted  that  in  the  past  the  horses  in  some 
counties  of  England  have  differed  from  those  of  other  coun- 
ties. However,  modern  effort  on  the  part  of  breeders  has 
resulted  in  producing  a  more  uniform  type.  Within  very  recent 
years  Alexander  Galbraith,  an  excellent  authority,  has  said 
that  the  type  that  won  at  the  London  show  twenty  years  ago 
would  have  no  chance  now.  Greater  refinement,  better  bone, 
more  action,  and  perhaps  less  hair  are  demanded. 

The  modern  Shire  horse  is  an  improvement  over  the  horse  of 
fifty  years  ago.  The  features  of  large  size,  hairy  legs,  and  draft 
type  have  been  maintained,  but  the  modern  Shire  has  more 
action  and  life,  possesses  more  quality  and  finish,  and  has  more 
uniformity  of  type  than  had  his  ancestors.  The  English  breeders 
recognized  the  need  of  improvement  of  their  draft  horse,  empha- 
sizing quality,  action,  flat  bone,  and  uniformity.  In  recent  times 
this  improvement  has  been  greatly  aided  by  the  Shire  Horse 
Society  and  the  comparisons  possible  through  the  exhibitions  of 
this  society  at  Islington.  Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  a  prominent  breeder 
and  horse  student,  has  been  a  leader  in  this  work. 


THE  SHIRE  127 

Important  Shire  stallions  of  breeding  fame  in  England  seem 
to  date  back  to  about  1755. 

Packington  Blind  Horse,  said  to  have  been  foaled  about  1 760, 
is  recognized  as  a  prepotent  force  in  early  days  in  the  counties 
of  Leicester  and  Derby. 

Honest  Tom  (1062),  foaled  in  1806  in  Lincolnshire,  was  a 
prominent  sire  in  his  day  and  his  descendants  proved  his  merit. 


Fig.  46.  Blythwood  Conqueror  (14997),  a  Shire  stallion  of  great  merit, 
representative  of  the  best  type.  Famous  in  England  as  a  sire  and  show 
horse.   Owned  by  Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  Bart.   Photograph  from  the  owner 

This  horse  at  five  years  of  age  scld  for  300  guineas  ($1  500).  He 
was  also  known  as  Old  Tom,  alias  Little  David,  alias  Old  David. 

John  Bull  (1 169),  for  a  time  owned  by  gypsies,  also  proved  a 
valuable  sire  in  early  days. 

Lincolnshire  Lad  II  (1365),  foaled  in  1872,  a  gray  in  color,  is 
one  of  the  best  known  modern  sires  of  show-ring  winners.  He 
stood  17  hands  high,  had  an  excess  of  hair,  was  somewhat  lack- 
ing in  depth  of  body,  but  had  much  ambition  and  courage  and 
proved  a  great  breeder. 


128  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Honest  Tom  (1105),  foaled  in  1865,  a  bay,  was  owned  for 
many  years  by  Mr.  T.  H.  Miller,  of  Lancashire,  England.  He 
won  first  prize  each  year  from  1867  to  1872  at  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  England  shows,  as  well  as  at  numerous  others. 
Some  of  his  progeny  also  proved  noteworthy  show  animals. 

William  the  Conqueror  (2343)  was  foaled  in  1862  in  Nottingham 
County.  He  was  a  brown  in  color,  a  winner  of  some  prizes  in 
the  show  ring,  and  was  the  sire  of  Prince  William  (3956),  Esquire 
(2774),  and  Staunton  Hero  (2918),  all  noted  stallions. 

Bar  None  (2388),  a  bay,  foaled  in  1877,  was  bred  by  Thomas 
Holmes  of  Yorkshire.  He  won  the  Shire  Society  championship 
in  1882.  He  attained  great  success  in  the  stud,  transmitting 
superb  quality  and  high-class  legs. 

Premier  (2646),  a  bay,  foaled  in  1880,  was  bred  by  John  Fisher 
of  Lancashire.  His  sire,  What's  Wanted  (2332),  was  a  well- 
known  show  and  breeding  animal.  Premier  proved  a  quite  suc- 
cessful sire  of  prize-winning  animals  at  the  Shire  Society  Show. 

Harold  (3703),  a  brown,  .foaled  in  1881,  bred  in  Derbyshire, 
won  numerous  important  prizes  in  the  show  ring.  He  was  very 
meritorious  as  a  sire,  transmitting  to  his  offspring  size,  excellent 
bone,  and  plenty  of  energy.  He  was  sired  by  Lincolnshire  Lad  II 
(1365),  previously  referred  to. 

Blythwood  Conqueror  (14997),  foaled  in  1893,  was  bred  by 
Sir  James  Blyth.  He  was  sired  by  Hitchin  Conqueror  (4458) 
and  had  for  dam  Blythwood  Bountiful  (1 1607).  Blythwood  Con- 
queror is  a  fine  representative  of  the  modern  Shire.  He  has 
attained  considerable  distinction  as  a  sire  of  prize  winners,  nota- 
bly in  the  stud  of  Sir  Walter  Gilbey. 

Bury  Chief  Victor  (11 105),  a  black  with  white  markings,  was 
foaled  in  1889.  He  was  a  horse  of  very  superior  conformation, 
was  a  great  show  animal  and  prize  winner  and  a  superior  sire. 
In  1 891  he  wassold  to  Mr.  Wainwright  for  2500  guineas  ($12,500), 
the  highest  price  for  a  Shire  up  to  that  time. 

Prince  William  (3956),  by  William  the  Conqueror  (2343),  had 
for  dam  Lockington  Beauty,  by  Champion  (457).  He  was  foaled 
in  1883  aRd  died  in  1905,  aged  twenty-two  years.  For  twenty 
years  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  stud  of  Lord  Wantage.  In 
1 894  fifty-two  animals  sired  by  him  sold  at  an  average  of  $6oo. 


THE  SHIRE 


129 


Hitchin  Conqueror  (4458)  was  foaled  in  1883,  being  sired  by 
William  the  Conqueror  (2343).  His  dam  was  Flower,  by  Honest 
Prince  (1058).  Hitchin  Conqueror  sired  many  fine  prize  winners 
and  superior  breeding  animals. 

Shire  characteristics  of  distinctive  importance  are  as  follows. 
In  size  this  is  the   largest  of  the  British  draft  breeds,  and  is 


Fig.  47.    Souldern  Scylax.  Champion  Shire  stallion  at  the  Royal  Agricultural 
'  Society  Show  of  England,   1904.    Photograph  from  National  Stockman 
and  Farmer 


excelled  in  weight  only  by  the  Belgian.  Stallions  weighing  from 
1800  to  2000  pounds  are  comparatively  common,  massiveness 
having  long  been  sought  for  by  Shire  breeders.  In  height  the 
Shire  stallion  should  stand  close  to  1 7  hands,  although  the  aver- 
age is  about  two  inches  less.  The  color  of  this  breed  is  some- 
what variable,  though  in  recent  years  bays  and  browns  have 
been  most   common,  white  markings  on  the  face   or  forehead 


130  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

and  on  the  legs  below  the  knee  or  hock  being  characteristic. 
Gray,  black,  sorrel,  chestnut,  and  shades  of  roan  also  prevail 
in  a  minor  degree.  The  barrel  of  the  Shire  is  larger  and  deeper 
than  that  of  the  Clydesdale,  thus  giving  more  weight.  The  legs 
are  large  and  powerful  and  the  bone  fairly  flat.  British  critics 
in  the  past  have  objected  to  frequency  of  round  cannons,  and 
flatter,  stronger  legs  have  become  more  common  in  recent  years. 
The  back  of  the  cannon  bones,  knees,  and  hocks  have  long,  flow- 
ing, fine  hair  in  the  best  specimens  of  the  breed.  Excessive  leg 
hair  and  heavy  bone  are  objected  to  as  indicating  sluggishness 
and  lack  of  quality,  as  compared  with  less  hair  and  finer  bone. 
The  pasterns  have  been  subject  to  criticism  as  being  too  short 
and  not  sloping  enough,  though  modern  types  show  improve- 
ment here.  The/"^  are  large  and  inclined  to  be  flat  at  the  heel. 
The  head  has  a  tendency  to  a  Roman  profile,  while  lack  of  breadth 
between  the  eyes  is  perhaps  too  common.  The  croup  is  long, 
broad,  but  not  so  level  as  with  the  Clydesdale,  though  the  differ- 
ence is  not  great.  The  action  is  greatly  improved  over  early 
days,  nevertheless  the  Shire  is  more  deficient  in  this  feature 
than  the  other  draft  breeds,  still  preserving  more  or  less  of  its 
early  inherited  sluggishness. 

Critics  of  the  Shire  in  America  have  charged  the  breed  with 
lack  of  action,  with  too  hairy  a  leg,  which  will  probably  never 
be  popular  in  this  country,  and  with  too  flat  a  foot.  This 
accounts  for  the  limited  number  of  Shires  imported  during 
recent  years. 

Importation  of  Shires  to  America  began  many  years  ago,  but 
just  when  the  first  of  this  sort  came  over  cannot  be  absolutely 
stated.  A  horse  named  Tamworth,  possibly  of  this  breed,  was 
brought  from  England  to  London,  Ontario,  Canada,  in  1836. 
In  1847  another  horse  named  King  Alfred  was  imported.  In 
1853  a  Mr.  Strickland  brought  a  stallion  known  as  John  Bull 
from  England  to  Aurora,  Illinois,  where  he  became  well  known. 
Several  others  were  imported  into  northern  Illinois  not  long 
after.  George  E.  Brown,  long  a  prominent  Shire  breeder  at 
Aurora,  states  that  as  far  as  he  has  been  able  to  learn,  the  earliest 
advertisement  of  Shires  by  any  importer  in  Western  agricultural 
papers  was  in  1875.    Along  in  the  eighties  many  stallions  were 


THE  SHIRE 


131 


brought  to  America  from  England.     Since  then  the  number  has 
greatly  decreased. 

The  use  of  the  Shire  in  crossing  on  large  mares  is  to  be  com- 
mended, if  the  stallion  used  presents  quality  of  a  proper  sort,  with 
a  typical  Shire  conformation.  In  such  crossing  the  chief  objection 
will  rest  against  the  probable  transmission  of  the  hairy  leg. 

The  distribution  of  the  Shire  is  general  in  English-speaking 
countries.  In  England  it  is  the  really  great  draft  breed.  In 
America  the  breed  has  been  best  known  in  Illinois,  Indiana, 
Ohio,  and  the  states  of  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley,  especially 
in  the  so-called  corn  belt.  Shires  have  been  exported  from 
England  to  the  continent  of  Europe,  especially  Germany,  and 
to  the  Argentine  Re- 
public in  South  Am- 
erica and  to  Australia. 

Organizations  to 
promote  the  Shire 
breed  are  not  old.  The 
English  Cart  Horse 
Society  was  organ- 
ized in  1878,  essen- 
tially to  promote  this 
breed,  but  in  1884  it 
changed  its  title  to  that  of  the  Shire  Horse  Society.  Up  to 
January  1,  1905,  this  society  has  published  over  twenty  volumes 
of  studbooks,  has  registered  many  thousand  animals,  and  has 
a  very  large  and  influential  membership.  The  American  Shire 
Association  was  organized  in  1885  and  has  a  comparatively  small 
membership;  and  up  to  January  1,  1905,  has  published  four 
volumes  of  studbooks. 

The  demand  for  the  Shire  in  the  city  horse  market  is  always 
good.  The  heavy  weight  of  this  breed,  or  of  good  grade 
progeny,  makes  it  in  active  demand  at  all  times  for  the  heavy 
draft  trade  of  cities.  Very  high  prices  have  been  paid  for 
drafters  of  Shire  breeding.  In  1904  a  grade  Shire  gelding  of 
remarkable  size  and  quality  was  sold  on  the  Chicago  horse 
market  for  $865,  up  to  that  time  the  highest  price  on  record 
in  this  market  for  a  draft  gelding. 


Fig.  48.    Placing  awards  on  Shires  at  the  Royal 
Show,  England.    Photograph  by  author 


132  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

The  Shire  in  the  show  ring  has  not  thus  far  received  great 
attention  in  America.  The  shows  of  the  Shire  Horse  Society 
in  England,  however,  are  very  notable  events.  The  twenty-sixth 
annual  show  of  that  society,  in  1905,  was  the  largest  ever  held, 
seven  hundred  stallions  and  mares  having  been  entered.  No 
such  remarkable  breed  exhibition  of  horses  has  ever  been  held 
in  America.  All  the  horses  shown  are  required  to  undergo  a 
careful  veterinary  examination. 

Importers  of  Shires  of  prominence  are  not  large  in  number. 
Alexander  Galbraith  of  Wisconsin,  George  E.  Brown,  Burgess 
Brothers,  and  the  Truman  Pioneer  Stud  Farm  of  Illinois,  and 
Bell  Brothers  of  Ohio  were  prime  and  influential  promoters  of 
the  breed  years  ago,  and  are  more  or  less  engaged  in  importing 
and  breeding  Shires  to-day. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

THE   BELGIAN 

Belgium  as  a  horse-breeding  country  has  a  reputation  extend- 
ing back  to  remote  times.  Remains  of  the  horse  have  been 
found  in  the  cave  dwellings  of  the  Lesse  and  Meuse,  showing 
the  relationship  of  man  to  this  valuable  animal  in  that  country 
in  prehistoric  times.  Since  the  days  of  historical  record  the 
horse  of  Belgium  has  been  famous.  Diodorus  Siculus,  a  Greek 
historical  writer  of  the  first  century  B.C.,  mentions  that  the 
Belgians  were  great  judges  of  horses,  and  Caesar  states  that  they 
were  willing  to  pay  high  prices  for  a  superior  class  of  foreign 
horses.  Tacitus,  the  historian  and  well-known  writer  of  the  first 
century  a.d.,  commented  on  the  extensive  buying  of  horses  from 
Belgium  and  the  inability  of  the  people  to  furnish  as  many  as 
were  desired.  It  has  even  been  assumed  that  perhaps  the  greater 
part  of  the  Roman  cavalry  consisted  of  Belgian  horses.  Up  to 
about  the  sixteenth  century  horse  breeding  was  an  important 
industry  in  Belgium,  but  with  the  general  introduction  of  gun- 
powder it  is  said  that  the  use  of  the  horse  was  largely  relegated 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  Belgium  lost  her  prestige  as  a  horse- 
producing  section. 

Modern  horse  breeding  in  Belgium  is  comparatively  recent  in 
its  activity.  The  country  suffered  from  revolution  in  1830,  and 
from  then  on  for  ten  years  the  industry  was  seriously  neglected. 
Government  officials,  however,  had  their  attention  directed  to 
the  loss  to  Belgian  interests  occasioned  by  this  neglect,  and  in 
1850  the  government  established  a  stud  for  stallions  at  Tervueren. 
Since  that  period  much  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  draft  horse  in  Belgium. 

The  official  draft  horse  society  of  Belgium  (Le  Cheval  de  trait 
Beige)  was  founded  in  1886.  The  draft  horse  is  the  only  race 
in    Belgium   officially   promoted   by   the  government,   and   this 

133 


134 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


society  was  organized  to  (i)  encourage  the  breeding  of  native 
horses  by  the  organization  of  annual  national  shows  ;  and  (2) 
maintain  a  studbook  of  Belgian  Draft  horses.  The  studbook  is 
published  by  a  special  commission  appointed  by  the  society.  Up 
to  1904  there  had  been  issued  eleven  volumes  recording  12,630 
stallions  and  2 1,767  mares.  The  large  numbers  of  mares  recorded, 
compared  with  stallions,  is  to  be  noted,  a  condition  quite  the 
reverse  with  draft-horse  studbook  registrations  in   the  United 


Fig.  49.  A  typical  Belgian  stallion.  Photograph  from  A.  Van  Schelle, 
Special  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  from  Belgium  to  the  Louisiana 
Purchase  Exposition 


States.  To  promote  the  work  of  this  society  the  government 
makes  an  annual  grant  of  30,000  francs  ($5000).  Besides  this, 
since  1890  national  premiums  have  been  offered  for  the  best 
stallions.    This  society  has  some  eleven  hundred  members. 

The  methods  employed  by  the  Belgian  government  to  encourage 
horse  breeding  are  of  special  interest.  Certain  state  regulations 
concerning  the  breeding  of  draft  horses  are  subject  to  constant 
supervision.  The  sum  of  about  350,000  francs  ($70,000)  is 
annually  expended  in  behalf  of  this  work.    This  money  is  used 


THE  BELGIAN  1 35 

to  meet  the  expense  of  shows  of  foals  and  mares,  which  are 
fixed  by  provincial  regulations  and  which  occur  in  some  forty- 
four  different  places.  Stallions  are  also  submitted  for  examina- 
tion at  this  time.  At  each  of  these  shows  two  classes  of  prizes 
are  awarded  :  (1)  a  first  prize  of  400  francs  ($80)  and  a  second 
of  300  francs  for  the  first  and  second  prize  three-year-old  stal- 
lions ;  (2)  a  first  prize  of  550  francs  ($110)  and  a  second  of  400 
francs  for  the  first  and  second  prize  four-year-old  or  older  stal- 
lions. Other  smaller  extra  prizes  may  be  awarded  on  stallions  of 
rank  subordinate  to  the  first  and  second. 

To  promote  home  horse  improvement  the  examining  com- 
mittee may  award  a  maintenance  bounty  of  700  francs  to  the 
owner  of  each  stallion  not  under  four  years  old  that  has  won  a 
first  prize  at  a  previous  annual  show.  A  similar  prize  of  500  francs 
is  awarded  the  owner  of  the  stallion  which  has  won  for  two  years 
the  second  place  in  the  class  of  stallions  four  years  old  or  over. 
If  the  committee  regards  as  of  exceptional  value  a  stallion  that 
has  won  a  maintenance  prize,  it  may  nominate  him  to  compete 
for  a  bounty  of  6000  francs  ($1200)  payable  annually  by  fifths, 
so  long  as  the  horse  remains  approved  by  the  committee  and 
retains  its  value.  At  the  end  of  five  years  the  owner  of  such 
a  stallion,  if  it  remains  approved,  may  continue  to  enjoy  an 
annual  maintenance  of  from  600  to  800  francs.  In  case  a  stallion 
that  has  received  the  6000  francs  bounty  is  sold  to  leave  Belgium, 
the  fifths  already  received  by  the  owner  must  be  returned  to 
the  treasury  of  the  state.  There  is  an  annual  competition  in 
each  province  for  stallions  four  years  old  or  over  that  have  won 
the  above  special  prizes,  at  which  they  may  compete  for  a  first 
prize  of  900  francs  and  a  second  of  700  francs. 

The  examination  of  stallions  usually  occurs  the  sixth  year, 
with  a  show  of  foals,  and  fillies  of  two  and  three  years,  and 
brood  mares,  when  considerable  prize  money  is  awarded.  Main- 
tenance bounties  may  also  be  awarded  owners  of  the  best  mares 
in  order  to  retain  them  in  Belgium. 

Draft-horse  shows  in  Belgium  are  held  each  year  at  Brussels 
in  June.  These  are  notable  events,  for  here  is  the  largest  show 
of  one  breed  that  is  made  in  Europe.  In  1 904  at  this  show  there 
were  nearly  800  entries  representing   264  stables.    While  the 


136  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

exhibits  come  from  all  over  Belgium,  the  most  important  ones  in 
recent  years  have  come  from  Brabant  and  Hainaut  and  the  prov- 
inces of  Liege  and  Namur.  Numerous  agricultural  associations 
also  hold  exhibitions  in  Belgium,  at  which  local  horses  are  shown. 
The  history  of  the  Belgian  Draft  horse  in  America  is  compara- 
tively brief.  Dr.  A.  G.  Van  Hoorebeke  of  Monmouth,  Illinois, 
brought  horses  ^o  this  countrv  from  Belgium  as  early  as  1866, 


Fig.  50.  Babette.  A  typical  Belgian  mare.  Photograph  from  A.  Van  Schelle, 
Special  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  from  Belgium  to  the  Louisiana  Pur- 
chase Exposition,  1904 

when  they  were  designated  as  Boulonnais.  The  incorrect  use  of 
this  word,  however,  was  recognized  after  a  few  years,  when  the 
correct  title  of  Belgian  was  given.  Massion  &  Son  of  Mintonk, 
Illinois,  were  also  early  importers.  In  1858  Mr.  E.  Lefebure 
came  to  America  from  Belgium  and  settled  in  Iowa,  and  from 
1888  till  his  death  in  1905  he  was  one  of  the  leading  promoters 
of  the  breed  in  this  country. 

Exhibitions  of  Belgians  in  the  United  States  are  comparatively 
recent.    Small  exhibits  have  attracted  attention  at  the  Chicago 


THE  BELGIAN  1 37 

horse  show  and  at  some  of  the  central  West  fairs  during  the 
past  twenty  years,  but  it  is  only  very  lately  that  general  interest 
has  been  taken  in  the  breed.  A  small  show  of  Belgians  was  made 
at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  in  1893  at  Chicago  by 
A.  B.  Holbert,  Van  Volsen  Bros,  and  Vanderschuerm,  Lefebure 
&  Sons  of  Iowa,  and  J.  Crouch  &  Son  of  Indiana.  During  the 
past  two  or  three  years  interest  in  the  breed  has  greatly  grown, 
and  at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition  at  Chicago  in 
1903  there  were  shown  twenty  aged  stallions,  while  in  1905  a  very 
large  and  creditable  show  was  made.  In  all  the  exhibitions,  how- 
ever, but  very  few  mares  are  found ;  in  fact,  there  are  but  very 
few  pure-bred  Belgian  mares  in  America. 

The  American  Association  of  Importers  and  Breeders  of  Belgian 
Draft  Horses  was  organized  in  1877,  and  works  in  harmony 
with  the  Belgian  society.  Thus  far  it  has  published  but  one 
studbook,  issued  in  1905. 

Characteristics  of  the  Belgian  Draft  horse.  The  general  con- 
formation is  of  the  most  compact  form,  this  breed  having  a 
maximum  of  weight  within  a  given  space.  The  body  is  very  full 
in  the  breast  and  unusually  broad  and  deep  of  back,  no  breed  in 
proportion  to  its  size  showing  so  much  body  girth.  Symmetry 
of  form  is  not  as  frequent  as  could  be  wished,  owing  to  a  rather 
characteristic  steepness  and  shortness  of  rump  extremely  com- 
mon with  Belgians,  with  the  tail  set  rather  low.  The  head  shows 
considerable  refinement,  and  is  carried  with  spirit  on  a  short, 
symmetrical  neck.  The  head,  neck,  and  rump  rather  suggest  the 
French  breeds  in  style  and  carriage.  The  legs  of  the  Belgians 
are  devoid  of  long  hair  and  are  notably  short.  Compared  with 
an  ordinary  draft  horse  one  is  impressed  by  the  closeness  with 
which  the  body  comes  to  the  ground.  While  the  legs  may  not 
be  open  to  objection,  frequently  there  is  a  tendency  to  too  much 
lightness  of  bone  and  lack  of  substance  to  support  the  body 
weight  and  withstand  the  severest  of  labor.  Neither  do  the 
hocks  show  great  depth  and  strength  as  frequently  as  is  desir- 
able. An  important  criticism  of  the  breed  by  Americans  has  been 
directed  to  the  feet.  These  tend  to  be  small  and  lack  in  circum- 
ference at  the  crown,  besides  being  high  and  narrow  at  the  heel. 
Probably  no  class  of  draft  horses  brought  to  America  has  the 


138  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

feet  so  severely  criticised  as  does  the  Belgian.  If  one  may  judge 
from  the  specimens  exhibited  in  America,  there  is  reason  in  this 
objection.  In  action  the  Belgian  is  somewhat  slow,  though  some 
remarkable  actors  have  been  seen  in  our  shows.  Omer,  the  cham- 
pion of  the  International  Live  Stock  Show  of  1903,  imported  by 
McLaughlin  Brothers,  has  a  stride  and  style  most  unusual  in  a 
draft  horse  of  any  breed.    In  color  the  chestnut  is  the  most 


Fig.  51.  Omer  1269.  A  prominent  prize-winning  Belgian  stallion,  imported  and 
exhibited  by  McLaughlin  Bros.,  Columbus,  Ohio.  First  in  class  and  grand 
champion  of  the  breed  in  1903  at  International  Live  Stock  Exposition. 
Photograph  by  author 

popular,  although  bays,  bay  browns,  and  roans  are  more  or  less 
frequent.  Grays  are  not  in  favor  either  at  home  or  abroad.  The 
height  and  wcigJit  vary.  M.  Albert  Van  Schelle,  the  special 
commissioner  from  Belgium  in  charge  of  the  exhibit  of  Belgian 
Draft  horses  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis 
in  1904,  classes  the  horses  of  Belgium  into  three  types  accord- 
ing to  the  sections  of  the  country  to  which  they  belong.    Those 


THE  BELGIAN  1 39 

from  Flanders  range  in  height  from  i6f  to  17  hands  or  more, 
and  the  stallions  weigh  about  2000  pounds.  Those  from  Brabant 
stand  15!  to  i6|  hands,  and  the  stallions  weigh  about  1600, 
while  those  of  the  Ardennais  stand  from  15  to  15^  hands  in 
height  and  weigh  about  1200  pounds.  In  temperament  the 
Belgian  draft  horse  stands  without  a  superior,  due  no  doubt  to 
being  raised  in  a  country  having  small  farms,  and  in  close  con- 
tact with  the  everyday  life  of  the  people.  As  the  author  saw 
these  horses  at  work  on  the  streets  of  Antwerp  and  on  the  farms 
of  Belgium  he  was  impressed  with  their  docility  of  temper  and 
their  great  draft  power.  Certainly  the  typical  draft  horse  of 
Belgium  possesses  the  weight  so  essential  to  move  great  loads 
with  the  least  exertion. 

The  cross-bred  Belgian  has  as  yet  been  but  little  seen  in  the 
United  States,  but  he  has  met  with  a  favorable  reception  where 
produced.  A  few  years  ago  a  consignment  of  grade  Belgian 
drafters,  the  product  of  pure-bred  stallions  on  native  mares,  was 
sold  at  auction  in  Chicago  market  at  from  $200  to  $335  per 
head,  and  received  much  favorable  comment.  The  writer  has 
seen  numerous  grade  geldings  shipped  to  Ohio  feeders  from  the 
West,  which  have  presented  a  most  attractive  individuality. 
Ohio  shippers  are  looking  with  more  and  more  favor  on  heavy 
Belgian  geldings  as  quite  satisfactory  to  the  city  trade.  They 
seem  to  be  reasonably  sound  of  limb  and  possess  the  blocky 
form  and  weight  so  much  in  demand  for  heavy  hauling. 

The  distribution  of  Belgian  Draft  horses  is  very  widespread. 
Germany  is  a  prominent- buyer,  while  England,  Holland,  Sweden, 
France,  Denmark,  Austria,  and  the  United  States  have  buyers 
in  the  Belgian  market.  In  1903  more  than  three  hundred  were 
shipped  to  the  United  States  At  the  1904  Brussels  show  an 
official  representative  of  the  Hungarian  government  purchased 
ten  stallions,  including  six  first-prize  winners.  In  the  United 
States  the  Belgian  has  been  longest  known  in  Iowa,  Illinois,  and 
Indiana.  Stallions  and  grades  are,  however,  becoming  distributed 
over  the  Mississippi  Valley  states  north  of  the  Ohio,  wherever 
the  heavy  draft  horse  is  needed. 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE  SUFFOLK 

The  native  home  of  the  Suffolk,  or  Suffolk  Punch  horse,  as  it 
has  been  known,  is  in  Suffolk  County  in  the  eastern  part  of  Eng- 
land. This  county  is  flat  in  character  with  clayey  soil,  is  gen- 
erally cultivated,  borders  on  the  seashore,  and  comprises  about 
fifteen  hundred  square  miles.  The  breed  is  also  more  or  less 
raised  in  Essex  and  other  eastern  counties,  while  specimens  are 
found  in  other  parts  of  England  to  a  slight  extent. 

The  early  career  of  the  Suffolk  horse  traces  clearly  back  to 
about  1700.  While  Normandy  horse  stock  has  been  assumed 
by  some  as  playing  an  early  part  in  the  formation  of  the  breed, 
no  positive  information  exists  on  this  point.  In  purity  of  blood 
it  is  believed  that  the  Suffolk  surpasses  any  other  breed  in  Great 
Britain.  The  general  evidence,  as  given  by  various  authorities, 
indicates  that  for  several  centuries  this  breed  has  been  bred  in 
Suffolk  with  much  purity. 

The  pure-bred  Suffolk  foundation  really  dates  back  to  a  horse 
of  unknown  sire,  foaled  in  1768,  known  as  the  "  Crisp  horse," 
being  owned  by  a  Mr.  Crisp  of  Ufford,  Sussex.  To  this  horse 
are  traced  all  pedigrees  of  the  breed  that  may  be  registered  in 
the  studbook  of  either  England  or  America.  This  history  has 
been  clearly  and  fully  traced,  and  stands  accepted  by  breeders 
universally.  The  Crisp  horse  was  a  bright  chestnut  in  color, 
stood  1 51  hands  high,  and  proved  a  remarkable  breeder.  In  the 
development  of  the  Suffolk  since  his  time  four  attempts  have 
been  made  to  introduce  foreign  blood  and  thus  improve  the 
stock.  In  no  case,  however,  has  this  blood  held  its  own,  but  has 
been  completely  absorbed  and  the  breeding  lost. 

The  foreign  blood  used  to  improve  the  Suffolk  was  as  follows : 

1.  The  Blake  strain.  This  came  from  the  use  of  a  Lincoln- 
shire trotting  horse  with   no  Suffolk  blood,  known  as  Blake's 

140 


THE  SUFFOLK 


141 


Farmer.    This  strain  was  in  existence  from  1780  to  1880,  and  at 
one  time  was  very  popular. 

2.  The  Wright  strain.  This  originated  from  a  horse  from 
Lincolnshire  known  as  Wright's  Farmer's  Glory,  or  the  Attleboro 
horse.  He  was  a  chestnut,  clean  limbed,  and  may  have  been  a 
half-bred  Suffolk.    This  strain  existed  from  1800  to  about  1880. 

3.  Shadingfield  strain.  This  came  from  the  produce  of  a 
trotting  horse,  the  son  of  a  Thoroughbred,  and  he  also  was  a 


Fig.  52.  A  first-prize  Suffolk  stallion  at  the  Royal  Show,  London,  Eng- 
land, 1904.  Photograph  from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berk- 
hamsted,  England 

chestnut.  This  strain  existed  for  about  half  a  century,  the  last 
being  foaled  in  1 846. 

4.  Martin  s  Boxer  strain.  This  appeared  to  be  a  Suffolk,  though 
he  was  not,  being  out  of  a  "  black  blood  mare."  This  strain  never 
obtained  any  foothold  beyond  two  mares  of  remote  breeding. 

These  strains  were  all  started  to  improve  the  breed,  but  they 
presented  deficiencies  ;  neither  could  they  overcome  the  predom- 
inant Suffolk  blood  and  character. 

The  history  of  the  modern  Suffolk  horse  is  essentially  a  most 
compact  one.  It  deals  with  the  development  of  the  breed  mainly 
in  Suffolk  and  vicinity  by  the  farmers  generally,  and  is  very 
well  connected,  largely  due  to  the  far-reaching  investigations  of 


1 42  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Herman  Biddell,  the  editor  of  the  first  Suffolk  Studbook.  Among 
the  horses  of  the  last  century  that  had  much  influence  on  the 
development  of  the  breed  are  Edward's  Old  Briton  490,  Catlin's 
Duke  296,  Crisp's  Fairhead's  Boxer  405,  Julian  Boxer  755,  Crisp's 
Cupbearer  1416,  Garrett's  Cupbearer  the  third,  and  Foxhall.  The 
latter  was  imported  to  America  by  Galbraith  Bros. 

The  history  of  the  Suffolk  horse  in  America  is  rather  re- 
stricted, these  horses  being  comparatively  unknown  in  the  United 
States  in  the  early  eighties.  In  1882  the  editor  of  the  National 
Live  Stock  Journal wrote :  "  If  some  of  these  Suffolk  horses  could 
be  imported  and  bred  alongside  of  the  Shire  and  Clydesdale,  it 
would  give  an  opportunity  to  see  what  would  prove  the  best  for 
American  purposes."  In  1883  this  same  journal  states  that 
Suffolks  are  finding  great  favor  in  Canada.  However,  Powell 
Brothers  of  Pennsylvania  imported  the  first  stallions  to  the 
United  States  in  1880.  In  1888  Galbraith  Brothers,  of  Janes- 
ville,  Wisconsin,  made  their  first  importation  of  stallions,  while 
the  same  year  Peter  Hopley  &  Company,  of  Lewis,  Iowa,  im- 
ported the  first  mares.  At  the  present  time  Galbraith  &  Son 
and  Peter  Hopley  &  Son  are  the  leading  breeders  and  ex- 
hibitors of  Suffolks  in  the  United  States.  At  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago  in  1893  a  few  Suffolks 
were  exhibited,  mainly  by  Peter  Hopley  &  Company,  although 
B.  Ramsey  of  Iowa  and  Mossom  Boyd  &  Company  of  Canada  also 
exhibited.  In  1903  forty-one  head  were  imported  to  America. 
A  few  Suffolk  horses  are  now  being  imported,  but  the  breed  as 
yet  is  but  little  known,  and  does  not  meet  with  rapidly  growing 
favor.  At  the  1904  International  Live  Stock  Exposition  an 
exhibit  of  about  a  dozen  Suffolk  stallions  and  mares  was  made 
by  Peter  Hopley  &  Son,  the  firm  name  being  changed. 

Characteristics  of  the  Suffolk  horse.  This  breed  has  long  pos- 
sessed certain  distinctive  features,  quite  marked  in  contrast  with 
other  breeds.    The  following  are  worthy  of  special  consideration. 

The  Suffolk  has  a  tendency  to  small  ears,  the  forehead  is 
broad,  and  the  eyes  are  of  medium  size  and  only  fairly  prominent. 
The  nose  tends  to  Roman  form,  which  has  been  rather  char- 
acteristic of  the  breed.  The  jaws  are  rather  strong  and  the 
cheeks  deep  and  full.    The  neck  has  something  of  an  arch,  —  in 


THE  SUFFOLK 


143 


fact  with  stallions  this  is  very  pronounced,  —  with  not  too  much 
heaviness  at  the  crest.  The  neck  sometimes  joins  the  head  a  bit 
heavily,  but  at  the  shoulders,  as  a  rule,  it  is  well  placed.  The 
shoulder  should  be  long  but  not  extremely  oblique.  A  race-horse 
placing  of  shoulder  is  not  desired  among  Suffolk  breeders,  a 
straighter  shoulder  being  better  suited  to  draft  work.  The  body 
of  this  breed  is  one  of  its  notable  features.  It  has  long  been 
characterized  by  great  depth  and  circumference,  considering  the 
size  of  the  horse.  The  ribs  have  an  unusual  spring  and  depth, 
thus  giving  the  body  a  very  round,  full  form.  Formerly  this  was 
unnecessarily  deep  and  round,  giving  it  a  paunchiness  from  which 
the  term  "Punch"  was  evolved  and  given  as  a  part  of  the  breed 
name.  Modern  breeders  object  to  heaviness  of  belly.  For  size 
the  body  girths  unusually  well.  A  girth  of  about  eight  feet  back 
of  the  shoulders  is  recommended.  The  rump  is  full  and  well 
carried  out,  the  tendency  to  steepness  being  slight. 

Strong  quarters  and  hocks  are  a  feature  of  the  breed,  but  there 
has  been  some  criticism  of  weak  hocks.  One  family,  Catlin's  Boxer 
299,  has  had  this  feature  of  bent  hind  legs  and  weak  hocks,  and 
Crisp's  Conqueror  413  and  Cupbearer  416,  famous  sires  as  they 
were,  had  a  tendency  to  this  trouble.  The  legs  of  the  Suffolk  are 
very  free  from  superfluous  hair,  and  while  they  have  been  criticised 
as  lacking  in  bone,  the  breeders  insist  that  this  is  not  so.  If  fairly 
compared  with  the  long-haired  breeds,  they  maintain  that  plenty 
of  bone  will  be  manifest.  Yet  the  bone  is  not  large,  but  of  supe- 
rior texture.  A  girth  of  10^  inches  below  the  knee  is  given  by 
Mr.  Biddell  as  ample,  more  being  thought  unnecessary.  The  feet 
of  this  breed  have  been  criticised  much  in  the  past.  The  middle 
of  the  last  century  it  was  claimed  that  the  feet  were  flat  and  the 
hoofs  brittle,  and  that  side  bones  were  common.  Now  for  years, 
however,  by  rules  of  the  Suffolk  society,  all  horses  shown  must 
be  submitted  to  a  veterinarian's  examination,  which  has  resulted 
in  a  great  improvement.    In  1880  A.  B.  Allen  wrote  : 

The. reason  why  they  have  not  long  since  been  imported  and  bred  exten- 
sively in  our  country  is  undoubtedly  owing  to  their  possessing  almost  unu- 
sually too  small  legs  for  their  bodies,  their  bad  hoofs,  and  shelly  feet.  I 
examined  this  breed  very  attentively  when  I  first  visited  England  in  1841, 
.  .  .  but  finding  them  so  deficient  in  the  feet  and  legs,  I  made  up  my  mind 
not  to  recommend  their  importation  to  this  country. 


144  THE  H0RSE>  ASS>  AND  MULE 

In  1893  Professor  Robert  Wallace,  the  Scotch  authority, 
stated  that  "at  one  time  they  were  flat-footed  and  liable  to 
become  lame  if  worked  regularly  on  the  hard  road  or  on  stone 
pavements,  but  the  care  bestowed  upon  breeding  has  in  recent 
years  eliminated  this  defect  among  animals  of  the  first  rank." 

The  quality  and  action  of  the  Suffolk  rank  well.  The  breed 
cannot  be  classed  as  coarse,  while  in  action  it  stands  next  to  the 
Clydesdale  among  the  draft  breeds.  Wallace  states  that  they 
twist  their  legs  and  feet  when  moving,  but  this  does  not  apply 
to-day  as  much  as  it  may  have  formerly.  The  height  ranges 
from  16  to  17  hands,  though  16  to  16^  is  more  common.  In 
fact  this  breed  should  be  short  of  leg  and  close  to  the  ground, 
though  the  Suffolks  the  author  has  seen  in  this  country  have 
shown  considerable  height  and  weight.  The  weight  should  not  run 
high,  1 800  to  1900  pounds  being  ample.  Greater  weights  than  this 
are  obtained,  but  they  are  not  most  typical  ;  for  example,  Gal- 
braith  gives  1800  to  2200  pounds,  but  this  brings  him  up  to  a 
horse  of  large  size  among  the  draft  breeds,  a  thing  never  claimed 
by  Suffolk  breeders.  The  Suffolk  should  not  be  as  large  as 
Clydesdale  or  Shire,  and  is  not  bred  for  the  heavy  draft  work  of 
the  city,  but  for  farm  purposes,  where  less  weight  is  required.  This 
is  generally  conceded  by  advocates  of  the  breed.  The  color  is  a 
Suffolk  characteristic,  for  it  is  always  a  chestnut,  varying  from 
a  bright  to  a  dark  shade.  This  has  always  been  a  breed  feature, 
no  other  color  being  allowed.  Biddell  allows  for  seven  shades, 
a  bright  one  being  considered  most  desirable,  with  mane  and 
tail  of  same  color.  Some  have  favored  the  dark  shade,  but  it  is 
not  generally  recognized  as  desirable.  A  light,  mealy  chestnut 
is  quite  condemned,  as  indicating  weak  constitution,  soft  legs, 
and  slow  temperament.  White  hairs  to  a  slight  extent  in  the 
body  color  may  be  permitted,  but  are  not  desired. 

The  Suffolk  as  a  draft  horse  ranks  high  among  the  farmers  of 
eastern  England.  It  is  considered  capable  of  doing  a  maximum 
amount  of  labor  on  a  less  amount  of  feed  and  for  longer  periods 
than  other  drafters.  This  is  the  opinion  of  the  people  of  Suffolk, 
however.  Its  steadiness  and  persistence  at  pull  has  long  made 
the  breed  famous,  but  this  same  characteristic  is  probably 
equally  well  established  with  other  breeds. 


THE  SUFFOLK  1 45 

The  distribution  of  Suffolk  horses  is  extremely  widespread,  in 
fact  more  so  than  is  commonly  supposed.  They  have  been  ex- 
ported to  the  Argentine,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  Spain,  France, 
Austria,  Germany,  Sweden,  Russia,  South  Africa,  and  the  Nile 
region  of  Africa.  In  Canada  and  the  United  States  they  have 
no  great  foothold,  but  are  scattered  over  these  countries  in  a 
small  way.  In  this  country  up  to  this  time  they  have  been  best 
known  in  Iowa.  In  1904  a  small  stud  of  these  horses  was  pur- 
chased of  Hopley  &  Son  for  the  Mt.  Hermon  Boys'  School  in 
Massachusetts,  and  this  same  firm  in  1905  made  shipments  to 
Washington  and  Oregon.  They  report  an  increasing  interest 
in  the   breed. 

The  value  of  the  Suffolk  horse  crossed  on  common  drafty  mares 
has  hardly  been  tried  on  an  extensive  scale.  Alexander  Galbraith 
states  that  the  grades  from  native  American  mares  have  good 
size  and  bone,  while  they  are  particularly  smooth-built  and  are 
almost  invariably  chestnut  in  color.  They  make  high-class 
animals  for  heavy  farming  and  express-wagon  work. 

The  fecundity  and  longevity  of  Suffolks  is  highly  attested. 
Numerous  cases  are  given  to  show  that  the  breed  is  very  pro- 
lific and  tenacious  of  life.  The  dam  of  Webb's  Rising  Star  1266 
was  twenty -two  years  old  when  he  was  foaled,  and  the  dam  of 
Loft's  Cupbearer  842  had  sixteen  foals  in  sixteen  years.  A 
mare  and  foal  were  shown  at  one  of  the  early  Suffolk  Agricul- 
tural Association  shows,  the  mare  being  thirty-seven  years  of 
age  when  the  foal  was  dropped.  The  great  stallion  Julian  Boxer 
755  traveled  at  least  twenty-five  seasons  and  left  a  large  num- 
ber of  superior  sons  and  daughters. 

The  Suffolk  Studbook  is  published  by  the  Suffolk  Studbook 
Society  in  England.  Volume  I  was  issued  in  1880.  Up  to 
January,  1905,  this  association  had  published  fourteen  volumes. 
There  is  an  American  Suffolk  Horse  Association,  but  as  yet  no 
studbook  has  been  published. 


CHAPTER   XXI 


PONIES 


pony  is  a  class 
been   bred  in 


A  standard  height  for  a  pony  does  not  obtain,  but  the  line 
between  a  true  pony  and  a  horse  is  drawn  at  14^  hands,  any- 
thing over  this  passing  out  of  the  pony  class. 

The  polo  pony  is  not  a  breed,  but  represents  a  type  and  size 
suitable  to  be  used  in  playing  polo.  For  this  purpose  anything 
possessing  the  necessary  speed,  activity,  endurance,  and  intelli- 
gence will  do.  The  maximum  height  allowed  by  the  American 
Polo  Association  is  14^  hands.     Small  Thoroughbreds,  Western 

ponies,  and  cross  or  half  breds 
are  popular. 

The  Welsh 
that   has   long 

Wales  and  is  now  receiving 
more  recognition  than  ever  be- 
fore. They  have  been  some- 
what improved  by  Arab  and 
Thoroughbred  blood  in  the 
past,  and  so  often  show  the 
influence  of  superior  breeding. 
These  ponies,  however,  offer 
considerable  variation,  and 
even  among  the  people  of 
Wales  are  not  altogether  re- 
garded as  a  breed.  In  Wales 
and  western  England  one  will 
see  these  ponies  in  various 
sizes  and  types.  In  1897,  the  writer  visited  one  of  the  largest 
studs  in  Wales,  where  many  fine  ponies  were  shown,  but  where 
considerable  difference  of  type  was  to  be  seen.  In  Wales  there 
is  a  Welsh  Pony  and  Cob  Society  for  promoting  and  registering 

146 


Fig.  53.  A  typical  Welsh  pony,  bred  by 
John  Jones,  Llandudno,  Wales.  From 
photograph  by  author 


PONIES 


147 


these  smaller  types  of  Welsh  horses.    This  society  divides  these 
ponies  or  small  horses  into  four  groups  as  follows: 

1.  Welsh  mountain  pony.  Height  not  to  exceed  12^  hands. 
Color  of  any  sort.  In  type  this  resembles  a  small  Arabian,  pos- 
sessing much  the  same  character  and  carriage  of  head,  rump, 
and  tail.  It  is  found  in  the  more  hilly  sections,  and  has  great  bone 
and  superior  muscle  and  en- 
durance. No  doubt  it  was 
originally  improved  by  Arab 
stallions. 

2.  Should  range  from  \2\ 
to  13^  hands,  is  of  the  cobby 
type,  and  is  not  as  well  adapted 
to  mountain  lands  as  the  pre- 
ceding. In  harness  both 
classes  1  and  2  make  a  very 
showy  appearance. 

3.  Should  range  from  13J 
to  14A  hands.  This  comes 
into  the  cob  class,  a  blockier 
sort  than  1  and  2. 

4.  Should  range  from  over  14^  to  not  more  than  15^  hands. 
Those  in  this  class  are  suited  to  mounted  infantry  or  cavalry 
service.  Ponies  of  classes  1  and  2  are  freely  used  in  Wales, 
where,  attached  to  really  heavy  carts,  they  trot  across  country  at 
remarkable  speed. 

Welsh  ponies  have  been  used  in  America  for  many  years,  but 
are  now  attracting  more  attention  than  ever.  They  possess 
more  style,  action,  and  size  than  the  Shetland,  and  are  suited 
to  either  saddle  or  harness.  A  good  specimen  of  the  breed 
should  at  least  show  plenty  of  speed  and  forcible  knee  and  hock 
action.  Owing  to  their  general  activity  and  endurance  they 
find  favor  for  polo  playing. 

The  Exmoor  pony  has  long  been  known  on  the  moors  of 
southwestern  England  in  Devonshire.  Here  on  some  twenty 
thousand  acres,  these  ponies  have  been  bred  more  or  less 
wild  for  perhaps  centuries.  This  breed  has  been  classed  as 
the    highest    type    of    pony,    closely    resembling    the    Arab    in 


Fig.  54.  Lady  White,  a  Welsh  pony  mare. 
First  at  the  Royal  Show,  Manchester, 
England,  1897.  A  winner  of  many  prizes. 
Owned  by  John  Jones.  Photograph  by 
the  author 


148  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

conformation.  Captain  W.  C.  Kerr  describes  the  breed  in  part 
as  follows  : 

The  true  Exmoor  pony  is  a  strong,  well-knit,  i3-to-i4-hand  animal  of 
the  dray-horse  sort  in  miniature  type  .  .  .,  sure-footed,  docile,  generally 
bay  in  color,  and  possessing  an  iron-clad  constitution.  .  .  .  His  salient 
points  are  strength  of  loin,  well-sprung  ribs,  great  breadth  of  chest  ;  in 
fact,  he  is  what  your  people  would  term  a  "chunky"  little  fellow.  .  .  .  All 
are  natural  fencers,  and  the  way  they  surmount  the  tremendous  banks  is 
marvelous.  I  ought  to  mention  that  their  heads  are  very  neat  and  blood- 
like, in  some  cases  very  Arab-like  ;  they  carry  their  tails  gayly,  have  a  little 
silky  hair  about  the  heels,  but,  like  all  our  ponies,  are  often  faulty  about 
the  shoulders. 

Exmoor  ponies  have  been  considerably  improved  by  Arab  and 
Thoroughbred  blood.  The  improved  form  meets  with  favor  for 
polo  playing,  for  use  with  children  in  saddle,  and  as  a  harness 
pony  for  cart,  phaeton,  or  other  light  vehicle.  There  are  but 
few  Exmoor  ponies  in  America. 

New  Forest  and  Dartmoor  ponies  have  been  known  for  centu- 
ries in  south  England.  Dartmoor  is  an  extensive  tract  of  land  in 
Cornwall,  embracing  about  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  square 
miles.  Here  ponies  have  been  bred  and  have  run  wild  for  many 
generations.  The  New  Forest  embraces  about  one  hundred  and 
forty-five  square  miles  of  fields  and  forest  in  south-central  Eng- 
land, where  ponies  also  have  run  wild  for  centuries.  These  ponies 
belong  to  the  same  class  as  the  Exmoor,  and  have  been  more  or 
less  improved  by  Arab  and  Thoroughbred  blood.  A  New  Forest 
Pony  Association  has  existed  in  England  for  some  years. 

The  Arab  pony  is  simply  an  Arab  under  14^  hands  high,  and 
is  discussed  elsewhere  as  a  separate  breed. 

Indian  ponies,  mustangs,  or  bronchos  are  descendants  of  the 
horses  brought  to  America  by  the  early  Spanish  conquerors. 
They  often  possess  much  beauty  of  form  and  high-class  heads 
and  limbs.  They  have  remarkable  endurance  and  are  capable 
of  the  severest  work  under  the  saddle.  They  vary  somewhat  in 
type,  those  owned  by  northern  Indians  not  being  the  equal  in 
quality  and  conformation  of  those  of  the  south.  Those  of  the 
Apache  Indians  are  said  to  greatly  resemble  Exmoor  ponies. 
Indian  ponies  are  of  all  colors,  usually  solid,  though  piebalds 


PONIES  149 

occur.  They  tend  to  be  ewe-necked,  are  often  deficient  in  quar- 
ter, and  have  a  remarkable  spirit,  which  is  frequently  far  from 
amiable.  Many  of  these  ponies,  with  all  their  other  good  quali- 
ties, are  most  uncertain  of  temper  and  may  prove  very  irritating 
when  least  expected.  Curtis  makes  the  mustang  and  Indian 
pony  of  different  breeding,  though  they  range  the  same  in  height 


Fig.  55.  Dilham  Prime  Minister  (5174).  The  most  famous  Hackney  pony  in 
America,  noted  as  a  prize  winner  and  a  sire.  Imported  and  owned  by  Eben 
D.  Jordan,  Boston,  Massachusetts.    From  photograph  from  Mr.  Jordan 

(12  to  14  hands),  weigh  much  the  same  (600  to  850  pounds),  and 
have  much  the  same  color.  The  Indian  pony  is  given  as  more 
blocky  than  the  mustang,  the  cannons  are  wider  and  the  pasterns 
more  upright. 

Hackney  ponies  are  Hackneys    14*  or  less  hands  high,  with 
the  general  characteristics  of  the  Hackney  horse. 


CHAPTER   XXII 

SHETLAND   PONY 

The  native  home  of  the  Shetland  pony  is  on  a  group  of  rocky 
islands  about  200  miles  north  of  Scotland.  These  lie  between 
590  and  6i°  north  latitude,  slightly  to  the  east  of  north,  and 
comprise  a  total  of  about  1 20  islands,  with  a  total  area  of  some 
500  square  miles.  Only  about  fifteen  of  these  islands  are  inhab- 
ited. The  principal  island  is  Mainland  on  which  is  located  Lerwick, 
the  largest  town  and  port  with  about  3700  inhabitants.  Other 
important  islands  are  Fetlar,  Bressay,  Fair  Isle,  Yell,  and  Unst. 
These  islands  are  rough  and  barren  as  a  rule,  and  are  situated 
in  a  turbulent  sea,  under  unfavorable  climatic  conditions,  where 
a  comparatively  low  temperature  prevails  for  much  of  the  year. 
No  trees  or  brush  of  significance  grow  on  the  islands,  and  what 
land  is  cultivated  lies  in  the  valleys.  On  the  islands  the  ponies 
are  fed  grass  and  hay,  not  often  receiving  any  grain,  and  it  is 
said  that  sometimes  they  are  even  obliged  to  eat  seaweed  on 
account  of  shortage  of  hay. 

The  ancestry  of  the  Shetland  pony  is  of  course  uncertain.  The 
drawings  of  the  prehistoric  horse  in  the  caves  of  France  show 
considerable  resemblance  to  the  Shetland  type,  and  it  is  sup- 
posed that  they  are  descendants  of  this  prehistoric  form.  How 
long  they  have  been  bred  on  the  islands  is  not  a  matter  of  record, 
but  they  have  been  bred  there  for  centuries.  In  their  early  his- 
tory they  are  doubtless  more  or  less  related  to  the  ponies  of 
Iceland  and  Scandinavia,  and  perhaps  Wales  and  Ireland. 

The  type  of  the  Shetland  pony  is  really  that  of  a  small  draft 
horse,  although  many  are  seen  that  are  fine  of  bone  and  slender 
of  body,  more  after  the  trotting-horse  type.  However,  the  ponies 
on  some  of  the  Shetland  Islands  are  of  a  different  type  from  those 
on  others.  In  fact,  it  is  claimed  that  a  different  type  is  found  on 
each  of  the  following  islands  :  South  Mainland,   Unst,   Fetlar, 

150 


SHETLAND  PONY 


151 


Fair  Isle,  and  Bressay.  For  example,  on  Fetlar,  Lady  Nicholson, 
a  Scotch  breeder,  has  used  Arab  pony  stallions  on  Shetland 
mares,  producing  a  pony  of  considerable  refinement  about  46 
to  48  inches  high.  These  are  known  in  the  trade  as  Fetlar  or 
Lady  Nicholson  ponies.  On  Bressay,  Iceland  ponies  have  been 
crossed  on  Shetlands.  Visitors  to  the  islands  have  there  seen 
work  horses  weighing  from  1200  to  1500  pounds,  some  of  which 
have  been  bred  to  Shetland  stallions. 

Characteristics  of  the  Shetland  pony.    The  height  ranges  from 
36  to  44  inches  in  choice  specimens,  but  with  variations  outside 


Fig.  56.    A  pony  mare  in  winter  coat  on  one  of  the  Shetland  Islands. 
Photograph  from  John  Anderson  &  Sons,  Lerwick,  Shetland 


of  this.  Eli  Elliott  of  Iowa,  who  has  bred  and  imported  many  from 
the  islands,  says  :  "  I  never  saw  in  any  country  what  I  believed  to 
be  a  'right  Shetland '  that  was  as  much  as  46  inches  high.  As 
a  rule  they  are  40  to  43,  and  some  as  small  as  36  to  38  inches, 
and  the  smaller  the  better."  The  smallest  pony  ever  seen  by 
Mr.  Elliott  was  34  inches  high,  weighing  under  200  pounds. 
Feeding  and  care,  however,  will  affect  the  height  and  weight. 
On  the  prairies  of  the  American  corn  belt  the  pony  tends  to 
increase  in  size  from  generation  to  generation.    In  the  American 


152  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Shetland  Pony  Studbook  quite  a  number  of  ponies  ranging  from 
30  to  36  inches  have  been  registered.  The  American  Shet- 
land Pony  Club  in  its  standard  gives  twenty-five  out  of  a 
hundred  points  to  height.  Ponies  over  four  years  old  should  be 
42  inches  and  under,  and  two  points  are  deducted  for  every  inch 
over  this  up  to  46,  above  which  height  they  are  disqualified. 
Catherine  Sinclair,  in  Shetland  and  its  Inhabitants,  says  that 
when  well  fed  the  ponies  will  reach  the  size  of  a  donkey,  and  in 
contrast  notes  that  a  Mr.  Hayes  raised  a  perfectly  formed  pony 
only  20  inches  high.  As  the  Shetland  is  used  to  a  considerable 
extent  in  coal  mines  in  England  for  hauling  coal  cars,  a  small  pony 
is  preferable  to  a  large  one.  The  weight  of  a  good  specimen  of 
the  breed  may  be  about  350  pounds  for  one  40  inches  high. 

The  head  of  the  Shetland  should  not  be  too  fine,  the  eye 
should  be  prominent,  the  neck  incline  to  be  short  and  strong 
with  some  crest  in  stallions,  the  shoulders  should  be  strong  and 
drafty,  the  breast  prominent  and  full,  the  body  short  in  coup- 
ling, wide  on  the  back,  with  considerable  spring  and  depth  of 
rib,  the  croup  broad,  fairly  level,  and  wide,  with  the  tail  set  high, 
the  quarters  full  and  strong,  the  legs  short  and  of  superior  bone, 
though  perhaps  appearing  heavy,  and  the  feet  round,  dark,  and 
of  excellent  bone.  A  long  heavy  coat  of  hair  occurs  on  the  body 
in  cold  weather,  while  at  all  times  a  long,  heavy  foretop,  mane, 
and  tail  are  characteristic.  No  breed  of  horses  carries  so  much 
hair  naturally  as  does  the  Shetland.  If  the  pony  is  leggy  and 
lacks  in  body,  this  will  be  due  to  Icelandic  or  other  blood.  Nar- 
row chests  and  cow  hocks  are  far  too  common  with  specimens  of 
the  breed  seen  in  America.  The  color  is  quite  variable,  black,  bay, 
and  brown  being  common,  but  there  are  gray,  roan,  and  chest- 
nut, with  combinations  of-  white  with  all  these  colors.  In  fact 
piebald  or  spotted  ponies  are  quite  common. 

The  improvement  of  the  Shetland  pony  was  begun  in  1873  by 
the  Marquis  of  Londonderry  of  England,  who  owns  extensive  coal 
mines.  He  purchased  the  island  of  Noss  and  part  of  Bressay,  and 
maintained  studs  there  and  at  Seaham  Harbor  on  the  northeast 
coast  of  England.  The  work  of  the  Marquis  of  Londonderry 
resulted  in  greatly  improving  the  uniformity  of  type  and  color, 
reducing  size,  but  increasing  bone  without  detriment  to  quality. 


SHETLAND   PONY 


153 


The  use  of  the  Shetland  in  America  is  nearly  exclusively  for 
children,  they  not  being  generally  regarded  as  beasts  of  burden. 
However,  about  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  where  large 
numbers  of  these  ponies 
are  common,  they  are 
frequently  seen  in  pony 
carts,  phaetons,  or  small 
surreys,  hauling  two  or 
four  persons  over  the 
pavements  with  com- 
parative ease.  Ponies 
for  this  heavier  work 
approximate  forty-five 
inches  or  more  in 
height.  No  breed  equals 
the  Shetland  for  chil- 
dren. The  very  univer- 
sal gentleness  of  these 
ponies  makes  them  safe 
for  small  children  to  use  with  the  greatest  freedom  in  any  way. 
Even  when  but  two  years  old  Shetlands  may  be  used  in  a  moder- 
ate way  in  the  saddle  by 
little  children.  Recently  the 
demand  for  Shetlands  has 
greatly  increased.  In  1905 
the  largest  importation  ever 
made  to  America  occurred 
in  the  bringing  over  from 
England  of  201  head. 

The  price  paid  for  Shet- 
land ponies  is  naturally 
variable,  but  ranges  from 
$75  upward.  Choice  stal- 
lions have  sold  at  from  $500 
to  $1000  each.  Mr.  C.  E. 
Bunn  states  in  his  catalogue  that  he  refused  $1500  for  his 
champion  stallion  Chestnut  3572.     The  price  is  in  some  degree 


Fig.  57.  Oman  (33).  First-prize  Shetland  pony 
stallion  at  the  Highland  Show,  Scotland,  in 
1896  and  1897,  and  at  the  Royal  Show  in  1897. 
Also  won  the  President's  Medal  for  being  the 
best  specimen  of  the  breed  at  the  Highland 
Show.  Bred  by  the  Marquis  of  Londonderry. 
Photograph  by  the  author 


Fig.  58.  Bretta.  A  Shetland  pony  mare  with 
foal,  owned  by  the  Marquis  of  London- 
derry, England.   Photograph  by  the  author 


154  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

affected  by  size,  other  things  being  equal,  the  smaller  ones 
fetching  the  most  money. 

Shetland  ponies  of  special  interest  in  America  in  recent  years 
are  Prince  of  Wales  1190,  Chestnut  3572,  Trinket  101,  Trinket 
Jr.  1 187,  and  Bunn's  Trinket  2598.  From  1893  to  1901  Prince 
of  Wales  was  the  greatest  show  stallion  of  the  breed  in  Amer- 
ica, while  he  also  proved  a  great  breeder,  siring  Chestnut  3572, 
also  a  great  show  and  breeding  horse.  The  Trinket  family  is 
spotted  and  numbers  many  fine  specimens  of  the  breed. 

Shetland  pony  organization  in  the  United  States  is  promoted 
by  the  American  Shetland  Pony  Club,  organized  in  1888.  Six 
studbooks  had  been  published  up  to  January,  1 906,  including  the 
registration  of  5700  animals. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

THE   ASS 

The  ancestry  of  the  ass  may  be  traced  to  the  wild  ass  of  Africa 
and  Asia.  The  males  are  usually  termed  jacks  and  the  females 
jennets.    The  following  are  the  important  species  of  the  wild  ass. 

The  African  wild  ass  (Equns  asinus).  This  species  is  found 
wild  in  Abyssinia,  Nubia,  and  northeastern  Africa  between  the 
Nile  and  the  Red  Sea.  It  is  very  similar  to  the  domestic  ass  in 
color  and  markings,  but  has  a  distinct  shoulder  stripe  extending 
from  the  withers  to  the  arm  of  the  fore  leg. 

The  Asiatic  wild  ass  {Equus  hemionus).  It  occurs  in  Asia 
on  extensive  plains,  from  Syria  through  Persia,  Afghanistan,  the 
Punjab,  and  Tibet  to  the  Chinese  frontier.  The  general  color  is 
reddish  gray,  varying  to  fawn  or  pale  chestnut.  A  dark  brown 
stripe,  sometimes  with  a  white  edge,  extends  along  the  spine  from 
the  back  of  the  head  to  the  tail.  The  ears  are  large,  the  tail  is 
covered  with  short  hair  which  increases  in  length  to  form  a 
black  brush,  and  the  mane  is  erect.  There  are  callosities  on 
the  fore  legs  but  none  on  the  hind.  The  height  varies  from  1 1 
to  12  hands.  This  ass  is  remarkable  for  speed  and  endurance. 
The  voice  is  a  shrieking  bray. 

From  the  wild  ass  various  breeds  of  the  domestic  ass  have 
descended,  ranging  in  size  from  those  no  larger  than  a  New- 
foundland dog  to  the  size  of  a  draft  horse.  There  are  several 
breeds  of  importance,  from  which  we  in  America  secure  the 
jackass,  or  jack,  for  mating  to  mares,  and  these  will  be  discussed 
after  first  briefly  referring  to  the  domestic  type. 

The  characteristics  of  the  domestic  ass  include  several  features 
not  possessed  by  the  horse.  The  female  is  pregnant  fully  twelve 
months,  the  horse  eleven.  The  fore  legs  have  callosities  (chest- 
nuts) while  the  hind  legs  have  none.  The  ears  are  very  large 
and  long,  the  foretop  and  mane  is  usually  very  scanty,  and  the 

i55 


156 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


tail  has  no  long  hair  excepting  at  its  lower  part,  which  has  a 
brush  of  hair.  The  body  is  often  covered  with  long  hair,  in  some 
cases  showing  remarkable  length,  while  in  other  cases  it  is  fairly 
short.  The  body  is  very  compact,  the  quarters  lacking  deep 
muscling,  while  the  legs  are  very  strong  of  bone,  often  heavy  of 
joint,  with  small,  narrow  feet.  The  ass  makes  a  peculiar  noise 
called  a  bray.  The  standard  color  in  America  is  black,  with  a 
light  creamy  or  mealy  shade  about  the  muzzle  and  along  the 
belly.    Gray  occurs  in  this  country,  but  does  not  meet  with  favor, 

and  is  not  approved  by  the 
American  Breeders'  Associ- 
ation of  Jacks  and  Jennets. 
The  Andalusian  jack  is 
native  to  Andalusia  in  south- 
ern Spain,  where  it  is  an 
ancient  breed.  The  color 
is  gray,  with  rare  cases  of 
black.  This  breed  has  con- 
siderable size  and  stands 
14^  to  15^  hands  high.  The 
bone  is  excellent  and  the 
breed  possesses  much  sub- 
stance. Sessions  refers  to 
one  1 5i  hands  high  having 
a  girth  of  67  inches  with 
the  bone  below  the  knee 
measuring  85  inches  around. 
The  head  and  neck  are  said  to  be  very  good.  This  breed  and 
color  have  never  been  popular  in  America,  although  well  scattered 
over  the  country. 

The  Maltese  jack  comes  from  the  island  of  Malta  in  the 
Mediterranean  Sea.  This  breed  is  either  black  or  brown  in  color, 
and  is  of  the  smaller  type,  rarely  exceeding  14^  hands.  The 
head  is  of  excellent  form,  with  sharp,  upright  ears.  The  Maltese 
possesses  much  life  and  vigor,  but  is  objected  to  on  account 
of  too  fine  a  bone  and  too  much  refinement,  with  not  enough 
substance.  A  larger  type  is  in  demand  in  the  American  trade, 
which  restricts  the  importation  of  this  breed. 


Fig.  59.  Antar  Jr.  217.  First-prize  two-year- 
old  jack  at  the  World's  Columbian  Expo- 
sition, Chicago,  in  1893,  a^so  ^rst  m  dass 
in  1897  at  Illinois  State  Fair.  Photograph 
by  the  author 


THE  ASS  157 

The  Catalonian  jack  is  a  Spanish  breed  from  Catalonia  in 
extreme  northeastern  Spain,  bordering  on  France.  This  is  a 
black  or  brown  breed  with  light  points,  black  largely  prevailing. 
The  coat  of  hair  tends  to  be  thick  and  short.  This  breed  stands 
from  14^  to  15  and  occasionally  16  hands  high.  From  the  stand- 
point of  critics  of  this  class  of  animals  the  Catalonian  possesses 


Fig.  60.  Dr.  Hartman.  The  leading  prize-winning  jack  at  the  principal  fairs 
in  the  blue  grass  region  of  Kentucky,  and  first  in  yearling  class  at  Loui- 
siana Purchase  Exposition,  St.  Louis,  1904.  Owned  by  J.  F.  Cook  &  Co., 
Lexington,  Kentucky.    Photograph  from  owners 

unusual  style,  beauty,  and  action.  The  head  shows  considerable 
character,  and  the  ears  are  rarely  droopy.  While  the  bone  is 
not  so  large  as  the  Andalusian  or  Poitou,  it  is  very  superior 
in  texture  and  free  of  flesh,  so  that  it  is  not  objectionable. 
The  Catalonian  is  also  a  wiry,  tough  type  that  matures  early. 
This  breed  has  been  largely  used  as  foundation  stock  for  produc- 
ing mules  in  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  Missouri,  where  it  is 


1 58  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

yet  in  great  favor.  H.  W.  Session  states  that  the  produce  of 
these  jacks  from  16  to  17  hands  high,  as  seen  in  Missouri, 
Kansas,  and  the  eastern  United  States,  have  much  weight 
and  substance  and  make  the  best  mules  in  the  world.  They 
are  quick,  active,  and  good  sellers,  and  mature  early. 

The  Majorca  jack  is  a  breed  of  more  recent  introduction  to 
America  from  Majorca,  one  of  the  Balearic  islands  in  the  Medi- 
terranean Sea  off  the  coast  of  Spain.  This  is  a  large  sort  of  drafty 
type  with  heavy  bone,  averaging  1 5 1  hands  high,  standing  per- 
haps a  hand  higher  than  the  Catalonian.  The  head  and  ears  are 
said  to  be  conspicuously  large,  the  latter  being  longer  than  those 
of  any  other  breed  and  poorly  carried.  There  is  a  lack  of  style  and 
action  with  the  Majorca,  the  tendency  being  to  sluggishness. 
The  breed  has  not  attained  popularity  in  America,  and  but  few 
have  been  brought  here.  It  has,  however,  met  with  considerable 
favor  in  Spain  for  producing  artillery  mules,  and  many  of  the 
jacks  have  been  exported  to  South  America.  In  its  native  home 
it  has  long  been  bred  with  much  purity. 

The  Poitou  jack  is  a  native  of  France,  where  for  many  centu- 
ries he  has  been  bred,  especially  in  the  province  of  Poitou,  border- 
ing on  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  Here,  in  the  departments  of  Vendee 
and  Deux-Sevres,  the  Poitou  ass  is  bred  in  his  greatest  perfection. 
This  is  the  most  powerful  of  the  several  breeds  of  asses.  In 
general,  they  may  be  described  as  having  an  unusually  big  head, 
with  large,  long  ears  ;  small  mouth  and  nostrils  ;  thick,  short 
neck;  broad  chest ;  good-sized,  long  body;  quarters  rather  spare; 
fore  arm  long  but  not  thick,  but  knees  and  joints  large  ;  hocks 
as  big  as  those  of  a  heavy  draft  horse  ;  bone  large,  many  meas- 
uring nine  inches  around  below  the  knee,  but  legs  very  short  and 
superior ;  feet  large.  The  prevailing  color  is  black  with  light 
points.  Grays  occur  occasionally,  but  are  not  regarded  with  favor 
and  are  not  eligible  to  registry  in  the  French  jack  studbook. 
Much  is  said  about  the  hairy  development  of  the  Poitou  jack. 
He  is  covered  with  a  profuse  growth  of  long,  silky  hair,  which 
adorns  the  ears,  neck,  and  legs.  The  tail,  which  is  rather  short, 
is  quite  devoid  of  hair  excepting  at  its  lower  part.  In  his  native 
home,  when  in  service,  the  Poitou  jack  is  said  to  be  a  very  unat- 
tractive beast,  for  he  is  never  groomed  or  trimmed.     In  Poitou 


THE  ASS 


59 


4  -"    •    *  1 


these  jacks  are  bred  to  a  very  large,  drafty,  powerful  type  of 
mare,  native  to  that  region,  from  which  are  produced  big  mules 
of  the  most  valuable  kind.  As  yet  jacks  of  this  breed  have  not 
been  brought  to  America  to  much  of  an  extent,  but  they  are 
generally  regarded  with  favor  wherever  introduced. 

The  desirable  height  for  a  jack  depends  upon  the  use.  If  to 
be  mated  to  a  mare,  about  1 5  hands  meets  approval,  while  if  for 
jennet  service,  a  larger  type  is  sought,  ranging  nearer  16  hands. 
In  an  examination  of  heights 
of  jacks  in  the  American 
jack  studbook  100  individ- 
uals averaged  15.2  hands 
high,  practically  15!  hands. 
Of  the  first  100  registered 
whose  height  was  given  the 
lowest  was  14  and  the  high- 
est i6J  hands,  but  nine  per 
cent  coming  within  the  16- 
hands  measure.  Twenty- 
five  Catalonian  jacks  had  an 
average  height  of  15,  and 
seven  Majorca  15.2  hands. 
Fifty  jennets  showed  an 
average  height  of  14.48  or 
14^  hands.  Tegetmeier  and  Sutherland  give  the  height  of  the 
Poitou  jack  as  13^  to  15,  and  of  the  jennets  as  13  to  14  hands. 
In  1877  Richardson  described  the  Poitou  ass  as  standing  from 
13!  to  14!  hands,  while  Sessions  says  they  rarely  exceed  14^ 
hands.  The  large  jack  of  16  hands  or  more  is  not  desired,  for 
he  frequently  breeds  a  leggy  mule  that  does  not  weigh  as  well  as 
those  sired  by  a  shorter-legged  type  of  jack.  The  rules  of  the 
American  Breeders'  Association  of  Jacks  and  Jennets  on  the  sub- 
ject of  height  are  as  follows  : 


Fig.  61.  Lisa  and  foal.  The  first-prize  Poitou 
jennet  at  Nantes,  France,  1901.  Notice  the 
long,  rough  coat  of  hair.  Photograph  from 
James  B.  McLaughlin 


2.  Up  to  January  1,  1892,  all  jacks  141  and  all  jennets  14  hands  high, 
standard  measure,  shall  be  eligible  to  registration,  if  black  with  light  points. 

3.  After  January  1,  1892,  jacks  and  jennets  of  unrecorded  sire  or  dam 
shall  be  eligible  to  registration  only  when  black  with  light  points,  and  of 
the  following  height,  standard  measure  : 


160  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

Imported  jacks  and  jennets,  the  produce  of  unrecorded  sire  or  dam,  15 
hands. 

Native  jacks,  the  produce  of  unrecorded  sire  or  dam,  151  hands. 

The  introduction  of  the  ass  to  America  is  said  to  date  back  to 
colonial  times,  when,  soon  after  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  King 
of  Spain  sent  as  a  gift  to  General  George  Washington,  a  Span- 
ish jack  and  jennet.  In  Washington's  time  some  early  interest 
was  shown  in  breeding  mules,  as  a  result  of  this  gift.  Henry  Clay 
is  said  to  have  imported  some  very  fine  Spanish  jacks  to  Kentucky. 
From  the  Clay  stock  Kentucky  obtained  the  start  which  has 
resulted  in  such  fame  for  that  state  in  mule  breeding.  One  of 
the  first  imported  jacks  taken  to  Tennessee  was  imported  about 
1840,  and  was  taken  to  Maury  County  by  a  Mr.  Thomas.  About 
1867  or  1868  Messrs.  A.  C.  Franklin  and  Tul  Craig  of  Sumner 
County,  Tennessee,  imported  some  Catalonian  jacks.  About 
1882  Mr.  Lyle  of  Kentucky  imported  some  Andalusians  from 
near  Seville,  and  the  same  year  Leonard  Brothers  of  Missouri 
made  a  similar  importation.  Many  importations  from  Spain, 
France,  and  the  Balearic  and  Malta  islands  have  been  brought 
to  America  since  1884. 

High  prices  for  jacks  prevail  to  an  extent  not  generally  sup- 
posed. In  France  the  Poitou  ass  brings  a  large  figure,  common 
ones  selling  close  up  to  $1000  and  the  better  class  from  $1500 
to  $2000.  At  a  recent  Paris  exposition  one  is  reported  selling 
at  $3200.  Paragon  63,  imported  from  Catalonia  in  1886,  was 
sold  for  $2000.  This  same  year  an  importation  of  Catalonian 
jacks  was  made  to  Tennessee,  from  which  Jumbo  sold  for  $2000, 
Peacock  for  $1500,  Boyd's  Monarch  for  $1500,  and  the  Douglas 
jack  for  $11 50.  From  another  importation  the  jack  King  James 
sold  for  $2000. 

The  American  Breeders'  Association  of  Jacks  and  Jennets  was 
organized  as  a  stock  company  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  1888. 
Five  volumes  of  studbooks  have  been  issued  to  1906.  The 
headquarters  of  the  association  are  in  Tennessee.  In  France  an 
association  for  registering  jacks  and  jennets  also  exists. 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

THE   MULE 

The  mule  is  not  a  true  breed,  as  ordinarily  considered,  but  is 
a  hybrid.  Its  importance  is  so  great,  however,  in  certain  sections 
of  America  that  it  is  worthy  of  consideration  as  an  important 
draft  animal. 

The  mule  is  a  hybrid,  having  for  sire  a  jackass,  commonly 
termed  a  jack,  and  a  mare  for  dam.  If,  however,  a  stallion  be 
bred  to  a  female  ass,  the  result  is  a  hybrid,  known  as  a  hinny. 
This  last  union  produces  an  offspring  inferior  to  the  mule  in  size, 
and  in  those  qualities  desired  in  a  draft  animal.  The  mule  is 
sterile  and  will  not  breed,  although  several  cases  are  on  record 
of  mare  mules  getting  in  foal  and  producing  to  a  stallion. 

The  mule  in  history  has  been  known  many  centuries.  No 
doubt  it  has  been  used  more  or  less  in  Europe  since  the  days 
before  Christ.  In  the  days  of  ancient  Rome  and  Greece  mules 
served  various  purposes.  Varro,  who  wrote  in  the  first  century 
B.C.,  refers  to  mules  in  Roman  agriculture,  as  does  also  Columella. 

The  geographical  distribution  of  the  mule  is  widespread.  He 
is  especially  bred  in  great  perfection  in  Spain,  France,  Portugal, 
Italy,  and  certain  sections  of  the  United  States  and  South 
America.  Great  Britain  has  never  looked  with  favor  on  the 
mule.    Sessions  has  recently  written  in  The  Live  Stock  Journal : 

The  mule  line  extends  north  from  the  equator,  and  includes  Africa  and 
Europe  up  to  45  degrees  of  latitude  and  Asia  and  North  America  as  far 
as  the  35  degrees.  On  the  south  side  of  the  equator  we  can  include  most 
of  Africa,  the  northern  half  of  Australia,  and  South  America  as  far  south 
as  the  35  degrees.  Within  this  vast  radius  hundreds  of  thousands  of  mules 
are  bred  each  year.  Many  of  the  mules  are  big,  heavy  animals,  with  great 
power  and  bone  and  stand  16  and  17  hands  high. 

Mule  raising  in  the  United  States  began  in  colonial  times. 
About  1787  George  Washington  was  presented  by  the  King  of 

161 


l62 


THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 


Spain  with  a  jack,  which  was  used  in  stud  at  Mount  Vernon 
and  sired  mules  that  sold  for  upwards  of  $200  each.  The  value 
of  the  mule  as  a  draft  animal  was  soon  recognized  by  intelligent 
Southerners.  Henry  Clay  in  1832  imported  a  jack  from  Spain 
to  Kentucky  for  use  on  mares,  and  others  followed  his  example. 
To-day,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Missouri,  and  Texas  are  the  most 
important  producers  of  mules,  Missouri  leading,  with  St.  Louis 
the  most  prominent  mule  market  in  the  world. 

The  characteristics  of  the  mule  partake  of  both  sire  and  dam. 
There  is  the  long  ear,  slender  body,  tufted  or  slightly  haired  tail, 

and  small,  slender  foot, 
and  braying  voice  of  the 
ass.  These  features  seem 
to  attach  a  peculiar  char- 
acter to  this  non-breeding 
farm  animal.  Mules  vary 
greatly  in  size  and  quality, 
naturally  due  to  their 
parentage.  Other  things 
being  equal,  a  large  mule 
brings  a  higher  price  in  the 
market  than  does  a  small 
one.  Mules  are  sorted  and 
classed  for  various  pur- 
poses. The  larger,  heavier 
mules  are  used  in  city  drayage  and  heavy  draft  work,  or  in  lum- 
ber camps.  A  medium  size  is  used  on  farms  and  in  military  serv- 
ice, while  the  smaller  grades  find  places  in  mines  and  elsewhere. 
The  market  classification  of  mules  usually  includes  five  groups, 
which  are  as  follows. 

1.  P Imitation  mules.  These  are  of  two  classes,  viz.  sugar  mules 
and  cotton  mules.  In  general,  plantation  mules  represent  the 
larger,  heavier,  better  type.  In  the  Chicago  market  a  sugar  mule 
stands  from  16  to  \6\  hands  high  and  weighs  from  1 100  to  1400 
pounds.  On  the  Kansas  City  market  the  height  is  given  at  15 
to  16  hands.  Sugar  mules  are  by  some  placed  in  the  highest 
class  as  regards  quality  and  value.  They  must  be  smooth  of 
finish,  show  refinement   of  head  and  neck,  and  have  superior 


Fig.  62.  An  unusually  choice  pair  of  show 
mules  of  Plantation  or  Sugar  class,  first-prize 
winners  at  Illinois  State  Fair,  1897.  Photo- 
graph by  the  author 


THE  MULE  163 

bone.  Sugar  mules  bring  the  highest  prices.  Cotton  mules  on 
the  Chicago  market  range  from  14  to  15^  hands  high  and  weigh 
from  900  to  1000  pounds.  John  Grant  of  the  Kansas  City  yards 
is  credited  with  stating  that  they  range  from  13  to  16  hands 
and  that  they  are  at  the  best  age  when  from  four  to  seven  years 
old.  In  the  Southwest  cotton  mules  are  very  common.  They 
are  not  of  so  uniformly  high  quality  as  sugar  mules,  but  must 
be  smooth  in  finish.     In  bone  they  range  from  light  to  medium. 

2.  Lumber  mules  stand  from  \^\  to  17  hands  high  and  are 
the  largest,  heaviest-boned,  and  most  rugged  sort.  Capacity  for 
hard  work  is  regarded  as  more  important  than  quality,  and  weight 
is  essential  in  its  application  to  hard  pulling  of  logs.  Very  high 
prices  are  paid  for  lumber  mules. 

3.  Railroad  mules  range  from  15^  to  \6\  hands,  and  weigh 
from  1200  to  1500  pounds,  as  graded  on  the  Chicago  market. 
They  must  be  of  excellent  quality  and  weigh  somewhat  less  than 
lumber  mules.  They  are  used  in  grading  and  general  hauling  in 
railroad  construction. 

4.  Mine  mules  —  of  two  kinds,  known  as  pitters  and  surface 
mules — vary  from  11  to  15 \  hands  high,  and  must  be  chunky 
and  hardy,  with  heavy  bone.  Prices  vary  according  to  height, 
quality,  and  weight.  In  commenting  on  this  class,  Mr.  John 
Grant  further  says  : 

The  miners  are  the  hardest  class  to  supply.  They  must  be  either  dark 
bay  or  black  in  color.  White  and  sorrel  mules  are  never  used.  When  the 
mines  have  long  shafts,  as  in  the  Pennsylvania  coal  regions  especially,  they 
say  a  white  mule  resembles  a  ghost  and  frightens  the  other  mules  beyond 
control.  The  pitters  must  be  long  in  body,  heavy-boned,  and  have  good 
weight.  They  range  from  12  to  151  hands  and  bring  from  $135  to  $200, 
while  for  any  other  trade  they  would  bring  $50  less.  Surface  mules  are 
used  on  the  long  hauls  on  top  of  ground.  They  are  heavy  but  taller,  and 
have  not  such  large  bones. 

5.  Levee  mules  are  about  the  same  as  railroad  mules,  though 
of  somewhat  better  quality.  They  are  used  near  steamboats  and 
docks  for  heavy  work,  especially  in  the  South.  They  must  be 
of  a  rugged  sort,  perfectly  sound,  and  capable  of  hard  work. 

The  above  classes  vary  somewhat  in  detail,  according  to  the 
local  markets,  —  St.  Louis,  Chicago,  Kansas  City,  Louisville,  or 


j  64  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

New  Orleans, — each  having  more  or  less  variation  from  any 
proposed  general  classification. 

The  best  type  of  mule  must  show  the  general  excellent  con- 
formation of  the  horse  in  symmetry  of  form.  The  body  tends  to 
be  more  cylindrical  and  smaller  than  in  the  horse,  but  a  capacious 
body  is  desirable  rather  than  otherwise,  though  paunchiness  is 
objectionable.  The  nearer  the  general  body  conformation  ap- 
proaches that  of  the  superior  draft  horse,  the  more  completely 
will  the  mule  suit  the  demands  of  the  critical  trade.  In  the  show 
ring  those  mules  which  meet  with  greatest  favor  possess  the  horse 
form  in  greatest  degree.  Legs  of  superior  quality  are  fine  and 
hard,  the  bone  very  smooth  and  dense,  the  tendons  prominent, 
and  the  muscles  well  developed.  The  feet  of  the  mule  are  smaller 
and  longer  than  those  of  the  horse,  and  the  arch  of  the  foot  is 
greater.  In  general,  the  mule  is  distinguished  for  superior  feet 
and  legs. 

The  temperament  of  the  mule  is  quiet  and  patient,  while  for 
steadiness  under  the  collar  and  hard  pulling  he  has  no  equal  in 
the  equine  world.  However,  the  mule  should  show  an  active 
temperament,  with  sprightly  carriage  and  style.  It  has  been  com- 
mon to  regard  the  mule  as  given  to  kicking,  but  this  is  not  based 
on  fact,  for  mules  are  no  worse  than  horses  in  this  respect. 
Horses  are  more  nervous  and  uncertain  in  temperament  than 
mules,  and  are  more  subject  to  fright  and  consequent  runaway. 

The  color  of  the  mule  is  variable,  though  brown  and  bay  are 
the  most  common  colors.  Besides  these,  various  shades  of 
gray,  white,  black,  sorrel  or  chestnut,  and  buckskin-yellow  occur 
more  or  less. 

The  endurance  of  the  mule  is  remarkable.  It  is  worked  under 
the  severest  conditions,  and  shows  great  power  of  resistance  to 
fatigue.    Tegetmeier  quotes  from  a  Texas  correspondent : 

Six  mules,  the  leaders  no  larger  than  ponies,  will  take  6000  to  7000 
pounds  anywhere,  making  fifteen  to  thirty  miles  a  day  according  to  the 
state  of  the  roads,  and  I  have  known  a  team  in  summer  driven  fifty  miles, 
with  1000  pounds  a  head  of  load,  to  reach  water,  and  not  appear  to  suffer. 

Mules  usually  live  to  a  greater  age  than  horses,  and  perform  their 
work  with  regularity  and  on  less  feed,  a  most  important  point  in 


THE  MULE  165 

their  favor.  Cases  are  recorded  of  mules  living  to  seventy 
years  of  age,  and  Mr.  J.  L.  Jones  refers  to  one  in  Tennessee 
that  at  thirty  years  of  age  was  doing  effective  service  attached 
to  a  reaper. 

The  resistance  of  the  mule  to  disease  has  been  a  frequent  sub- 
ject of  discussion.  It  is  commonly  claimed  that  the  mule  is  not 
so  generally  subject  to  disease  as  the  horse.  Pomeroy  in  an  essay 
on  the  mule  credits  this  animal  with  freedom  from  any  kind  of 
disorder  or  complaint.  In  an  investigation  of  "blind  staggers" 
among  horses  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  conducted  under 
the  direction  of  United  States  Secretary  of  Agriculture  Coleman, 
mules  were  found  quite  exempt  from  this  disease,  although  they 
are  credited  with  other  maladies.  In  regions  in  the  lower  Missis- 
sippi Valley  infested  with  buffalo  gnats,  Professor  F.  M.  Webster 
reports  the  mule  as  the  animal  most  subject  to  fatality  from 
attacks  of  this  insect.  Southern-bred  mules,  however,  are  far 
less  susceptible  to  the  bites  of  the  gnats  than  those  imported 
from  more  northern  localities.  While  the  mule  is  not  so  subject 
to  leg  and  foot  diseases  as  is  the  horse,  cases  of  spavin,  ringbone, 
sidebone,  and  other  troubles  do  occur.  Corns  are  rarely  found 
on  the  feet  of  the  mule.  Even  when  affected  with  foot  or  leg 
disease,  this  animal,  as  a  rule,  without  doubt,  is  less  disabled 
from  work  than  is  the  horse.  The  resistance  of  the  mule  to  dis- 
ease, its  activity,  sureness  of  foot,  docility,  and  easiness  of  keep, 
have  resulted  in  its  finding  much  favor  in  the  army  service. 

The  mule  as  a  carriage  or  saddle  animal  is  important  in  certain 
sections.  In  the  Southern  states  he  is  thus  used  very  commonly 
by  negroes  and  the  poorer  classes  of  whites.  In  the  central  West, 
in  states  bordering  the  Ohio  river,  one  occasionally  sees  gentle- 
men driving  mules,,  either  singly  or  in  pairs,  in  harness,  attached 
to  carriages,  the  animals  trotting  with  commendable  speed. 

The  Poitou  mule  is  a  famous  French  mule,  the  result  of  using 
the  Poitou  ass  on  a  large  type  of  French  mares.  There  are  two 
types  of  these  mules  bred  in  the  Poitou  region,  a  large  and  a  small, 
but  the  larger  type  is  in  greater  demand.  The  finest  and  largest 
cart  mares  are  used  for  this  production,  the  French  farmers 
making  a  business  of  producing  this  grade  of  mule.  Besides  size, 
Poitou  mules  are  celebrated  for  the  shortness  and  stoutness  of 


1 66  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

their  legs,  with  their  superior  bone  and  unusually  large  and 
finely  formed  feet. 

The  sex  of  the  mule  has  a  bearing  on  its  salability.  Mare 
mules  are  preferred  by  buyers,  feeders,  and  dealers  generally, 
and  sell  more  easily  than  horse  mules.  The  females  assume  a 
matured  form  at  an  earlier  age,  and  fatten  best  for  the  market. 
The  horse  or  male  mules  have  a  more  angular  and  leggy  form, 
and  cannot  be  fattened  so  early  as  the  mares.  One  dealer  in 
mules  tells  the  author  that  horse  mules  in  pasture  with  other 
stock  will  worry  them,  when  the  mares  would  not.  The  sexual 
organs  of  the  mule  are  supposed  to  be  incomplete,  but  several 
cases  are  on  record  where  mare  mules  have  become  impregnated 
and  produced  young.  Such  cases,  however,  are  remarkable  and 
are  not  accepted  as  authentic  by  most  scientists. 

The  prices  paid  for  mules  vary,  naturally,  with  the  quality  and 
character  of  the  animals  offered.  However,  the  average  farm 
price  for  mules  is  greater  than  for  horses.  On  January  i,  1905, 
the  average  farm  price  for  horses  in  the  United  States  was 
$70.37,  while  for  mules  it  was  $87.18.  In  those  markets  where 
mules  are  important,  very  high  prices  rule,  and  a  pair  of  heavy, 
matched  mules  of  superior  quality  and  conformation  sell  easily 
for  $500  and  upwards.  The  Poitou  mule  in  France,  rated  the 
best  in  Europe,  sells  at  $200  to  $300  a  head,  and  sometimes 
fetches  $400.  Large  numbers  of  mules  change  hands  at  from 
$100  to  $150  per  head.  In  1905  The  National  Stockman  and 
Farmer  noted  the  sale  in  Kentucky  of  one  pair  weighing  3100 
pounds  at  $550  and  of  another  pair  of  2600  pounds  weight  at  $450. 


REFERENCE  BOOKS 


167 


A  FEW  REFERENCE  BOOKS  ON  THE  HORSE 

Those  marked  with  a  *  are  especially  recommended. 

^    *E.  L.  Anderson  and  Price  Collier,  Riding  and  Driving.    New  York,  1905. 
*Robert  Black,  Horse  Racing  in  France.    London,  1886. 

*W.  C.  A.  Blew  and  others,  Light  Horses :  Breeds  and  Management,  London 
1894. 
kg  *Hamilton  Busby,    The  Trotting  and  Pacing  Horse  in  America.    New  York, 
1904. 
1  Louis  Henry  Curzon,  A  Mirror  of  the  Turf.   London,  1892. 
Richard  Darvill,  A  Treatise  on   the  Care,  Treatment  and    Training  of  the 

English  Race  Horse.    2  vols.    London,  1846. 
E.  Daumas,  The  Horses  of  the  Sahara.    London,  1863. 


William  Day,  The  Horse.    London,  1890 


/  William  Day,  The  Race  Horse  in  Training.  London,  1892. 
John  Dimon,  American  Horses  and  Horse  Breeding.    Hartford,  1895. 
William  S.  Dixon  (The  Druid),  Post  and  Paddock.    London,  1856. 
William  S.  Dixon  (The  Druid),  Silk  and  Scarlet.    London,  1859. 
*Theodore  A.  Dodge,  The  Riders  of  Many  Lands.    New  York,  1894. 
*Charles  Du  Huys,  The  Percheron  Horse.    New  York,  1868. 
William  Henry  Flower,  The  Horse.    London,  1891. 
*Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  Ponies  Past  and  Present.    London,  1900. 
*Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  Riding  and  Driving  Horses.    London,  1901. 
*Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  The  Great  Horse :  The  Shire.    London,  1899. 
*Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  The  Harness  Horse.    London,  1898. 
*Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  The  Old  English  War  Horse.    London,  1888. 
*M.  Horace  Hayes,  Points  of  the  Horse.    London,  1897. 
*Heavy  Horses  :  Breeds  and  Management.    London,  1895. 
*H.  T.  Helm,  American  Roadsters  and  Trotting  Horses.    Chicago,  1878. 
*H.  W.  Herbert,  Frank  Forester's  Horse  and  Horsemanship  of  the  United 

States.     2  vols.     New  York,  1871. 
*J.  P.  Hore,  The  History  of  Newmarket.    3  vols.    London,  1886. 
F.  H.  Huth,  Works  on  Horses  and  Equitation :  A  Bibliographical  Record  of 

Hippology.    London,  1887. 
*D.  C.  Linsley,  Morgan  Horses.    New  York,  1857. 

*C.  Bruce  Lowe,  Breeding  Race  Horses  by  the  Figure  System.  New  York,  1898. 
*Charles  Marvin,  Training  the  Trotting  Horse.    New  York,  1892. 
Pierre  Megnin,  Le  Cheval  et  ses  Races.    Vincennes,  1895. 
*H.  C.  Merwin,  Road,  Track  and  Stable.    Boston,  1893. 
Joseph  Osborne,  The  Horse  Breeders'  Handbook.    London,  N.D. 


1 68  THE  HORSE,  ASS,  AND  MULE 

J.  H.  Reeves,  The  Orange  County  Stud  Book.    New  York,  1880. 

*William  Ridgeway,  Origin  and  Influence  of  the  Thoroughbred  Horse.    Cam- 
bridge, 1905. 

Isaac  Phillips  Roberts,  The  Horse.    New  York,  1905. 

J.  H.  Sanders,  Horse  Breeding.    Chicago,  1893. 

*S.  Sidney,  The  Book  of  the  Horse.    London  and  New  York,  N.D. 

C.  H.  Smith,  Horses:  The  Equidae  or  Genus  Equus.    Naturalists'  Library,  Vol. 
XII.    Edinburgh,  1841. 

John  Gilmer  Speed,  The  Horse  in  America.    New  York,  1905. 

John  Splan,  Life  with  the  Trotters.    Chicago,  1889. 

*Charles  Trevathan,  The  American  Thoroughbred.    New  York,  1905. 

J.  H.  Walsh  (Stonehenge),  The  Horse  in  the  Stable  and  the  Field.    London, 
1871. 
.  James  C.  White,  The  History  of  the  British  Turf.    2  vols.    London,  1840. 

*Hiram  Woodruff,  The  Trotting  Horse  of  America.    Philadelphia,  1868. 

*William  Youatt,  The  Horse.     London,  1846,  and  Philadelphia,  1848. 


The  Ass  and  Mule 

*Harvey  Riley,  The  Mule.    New  York,  1867. 

*W.  B.  Tegetmeier  and  C.  L.  Sutherland,  Horses,  Asses,  Zebras,  Mules  and 
Mule  Breeding.    London,  1895. 


PART  II  — CATTLE 
CHAPTER  XXV 

BEEF  TYPE  OF   CATTLE 

The  general  appearance  of  the  beef  animal,  when  of  correct 
type,  shows  a  distinctly  meat-producing  form.  The  animal  is  com- 
pact and  broad  of  back  from  shoulder  points  to  hips ;  has  a  wide, 
deep  body  ;  short  and  somewhat  thick  neck  ;  wide,  deep,  full 
bosom ;  rather  broad,  thick,  fleshy  hind  quarters  ;  and  a  generally 
deep,  wide  body.  Viewed  from  one  side  the  top  and  bottom  lines 
of  body  run  rather  parallel,  with  the  back  quite  level.  From  front 
or  rear  the  outline  should  be  rather  full  and  broad.  Cattle  of 
this  type  are  commonly  referred  to  as  "blocky,"  indicating  com- 
pactness and  squareness  of  form.  If  the  body  is  inclined  to  be 
long  it  may  be  termed  "rangy,"  while  animals  long  of  leg,  show- 
ing too  little  depth  and  fullness  of  body,  may  be  termed  "leggy." 

The  head  should  have  a  broad,  strong  muzzle,  indicating 
superior  grazing  and  feeding  capacity.  The  nostrils,  when  some- 
what prominent  and  large,  with  a  wide  nose,  show  ample  nasal 
capacity  to  supply  the  lungs  with  air.  A  Roman  nose  sometimes 
occurs  with  cattle,  but  it  is  neither  attractive  nor  desirable.  The 
distance  from  the  muzzle  to  a  point  immediately  between  the 
eyes  is  preferably  short,  with  some  curve,  or  "dish,"  as  it  is  termed, 
just  below  the  eyes,  which  should  be  wide  apart,  large,  and  indi- 
cate a  gentle  temperament.  A  quiet  eye  means  an  easy  feeder, 
while  a  nervous,  restless  eye  shows  an  animal  unsatisfactory  to 
handle  and  care  for.  The  forehead,  as  indicating  mental  capac- 
ity, should  be  broad  and  reasonably  full.  The  face  and  cheeks 
in  a  superior  head  are  full  and  deep,  connected  with  a  rather 
broad,  strong  lower  jaw.    If  of  the  horned  type,  the  horns  should 

169 


1 70  CATTLE 

not  be  coarse  at  the  head,  but  should  show  plenty  of  fine  texture 
and  quality,  and  be  graceful  and  of  harmonious  proportions.  An 
abundance  of  rather  long  hair  should  crown  the  poll,  or  top  of  the 
head.  It  is  most  desirable  that  the  ear  should  be  neatly  attached 
to  the  head,  without  coarseness,  and  that  it  should  be  of  superior 
quality,  and  neatly  pointed  and  covered  with  silky  hair,  with 
long  hair  at  edges  and  tips. 

The  neck  of  the  beef  animal  tends  to  be  short,  thick,  and  mus- 
cular, of  medium  depth,  and  should  be  neatly  attached  to  the  head 
and  smoothly  blended  with  the  shoulders.  The  bull  at  maturity 
shows  a  neck  of  more  length,  with  heavier  muscles,  some  arch, 
and  a  heavy  coat  of  hair.  The  female  will  have  a  shorter,  lighter 
neck,  with  less  thickness  and  less  depth.  The  steer  should  have 
a  shorter,  thicker,  fuller,  smoother  fleshed  neck  than  the  cow. 
When  in  perfect  pose,  with  head  up,  the  top  line  of  the  neck 
should  be  but  slightly  raised  above  the  height  of  the  withers. 

The  shoulders  should  extend  well  into  the  back,  lying  smoothly 
covered  with  flesh,  blending  neatly  with  the  body.  A  high  type 
of  shoulder  is  uniformly  covered  with  flesh  from  shoulder  point 
to  top  of  withers.  Rough,  angular  shoulders,  unevenly  covered, 
are  among  the  most  common  defects  of  cattle.  A  prominent 
shoulder  also  emphasizes  the  development  behind  it. 

The  breast  and  cJiest  are  most  important.  The  former  should 
be  carried  well  forward  and  be  broad  and  full  in  the  bosom.  As 
one  stands  and  views  a  beef  bull  in  show  form  a  great  breadth 
of  breast  and  strength  of  brisket  meets  the  eye.  Sometimes  the 
breast  and  chest  have  great  depth,  and  the  brisket  comes  within 
fifteen  inches  of  the  level  of  the  foot.  Viewed  from  one  side  it 
may  curve  forward  like  the  prow  of  a  ship.  With  the  cow  con- 
siderable bosom  may  show,  but  not  in  so  great  a  degree,  and  with 
less  breadth  and  more  feminine  outline.  The  chest,  which  lies 
between  the  shoulders  and  just  back  of  them,  should  be  full  at 
the  crops,  showing  much  spring  of  rib,  and  also  well  filled  out 
in  the  front  flanks.  The  most  beautiful  front  on  the  beef  animal, 
no  matter  whether  bull,  cow,  or  steer,  is  a  smoothly  laid,  well- 
fleshed  shoulder,  with  a  strong  arch  of  rib  behind,  leaving  little 
or  no  depression.  Much  depression  behind  the  shoulders,  or  a 
narrow,  contracted  lower  chest,  indicates  lack  of  constitution. 


BEEF  TYPE  OF  CATTLE 


171 


The  front  legs  should  have  a  wide  muscular  attachment  of 
arm  at  the  shoulder,  with  plenty  of  room  from  armpit  to  armpit 
below  the  chest.  Short,  well-placed  legs,  coming  straight  down, 
viewed  from  front  or  side,  are  essential.  The  toes  should  point 
straight  forward,  this  indicating  a  proper  position.  Closeness  of 
knees  indicates  a  narrow  chest.  Fine  bone  and  smooth  joints 
point  to  superior  quality.  The  front  shank  bone  of  a  mature  animal 
of  the  beef  class  should  show  refinement  at  its  narrowest  point. 


-11 

-■...'•• 

S;        '■^••:X ■■■}'"■-- a    '    v 

HP        *•* 

\k%^+'ik\ 

4 

1 

Fig.  63.  The  Hereford  bull  March  On  VI  and  the  heifer  Bouquet.  These 
show  beef  form  in  a  pronounced  degree,  especially  as  viewed  in  front. 
Photograph  from  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 


The  back  of  beef  cattle  carries  an  immense  weight,  supported 
at  fore  and  hind  quarters.  It  should  thus  be  very  strong  and 
level  to  sustain  this  burden.  As  the  highest-priced  meats  on 
the  carcass  are  found  on  the  back,  it  is  important  that  the  ribs 
be  well  arched,  that  a  broad  back  be  provided,  to  carry  as  much 
meat  as  possible,  thus  adding  to  the  value  of  the  animal.  Great 
width  is  desirable  from  the  point  of  the  shoulders  to  the  hips, 
and  as  viewed  from  front  or  rear  along  the  back  there  should 
be  much  breadth,  covered  uniformly  with  mellow  flesh.    Dimples 


lj2  CATTLE 

or  tucks  in  the  back,  rough  spots,  and  uneven  patches  of  fat 
detract  from  the  value  of  this  part. 

The  ribs  should  not  only  be  well  sprung  but  be  long  and 
carried  down  to  help  make  a  capacious  body.  This  goes  with  the 
strong  feeder,  and  is  also  most  essential  with  the  breeding  female. 
With  bulls  and  steers  a  very  close  coupling  between  the  hips 
and  last  ribs,  or  all  the  ribs  in  fact,  is  desired,  but  with  cows  for 
breeding  purposes  some  greater  length  is  approved  of.  The 
depth  at  front  and  hind  flank,  with  a  thick,  full  feel  at  the  latter, 
are  associated  with  superior  form. 

The  hips  should  be  well  placed,  snugly  laid,  and  with  steers 
well  covered  with  flesh.  A  wide  hip  in  the  bull  is  undesirable, 
for  such  a  feature  may  be  transmitted  and  be  a  source  of  dan- 
ger to  the  cow  on  birth  of  wide-hipped  offspring.  A  greater 
width  and  more  prominence  of  hip  is  allowable  among  the  cows, 
although  too  frequently  one  sees  the  hip  too  prominent. 

The  rump  of  a  beef  animal,  no  matter  what  the  kind,  should 
be  long  from  hip  to  point  of  body,  be  of  great  width,  and  com- 
paratively level.  This  not  only  promotes  a  maximum  of  flesh 
production,  but  it  gives  a  more  beautiful  form  and  offers  a  con- 
formation better  suited  to  the  breeding  female  than  does  any  other. 
A  droopy,  peaked  rump  is  a  defective  conformation,  obstructs 
easy  calving,  may  reduce  flesh  capacity,  and  certainly  detracts 
from  beauty  of  form.  With  beef  cattle  the  rumps  are  sometimes 
rough  about  the  tail  head  or  at  the  ends  of  the  rump  on  each 
side  of  the  tail.  Smoothness  and  fullness  here  indicate  better 
fleshing  qualities. 

The  hind  quarter,  viewed  from  behind,  should  be  quite  thick, 
coming  down  perpendicularly  on  the  outside  to  where  the  thigh 
naturally  narrows.  On  the  inside  a  thick,  broad  edge,  with  much 
depth  from  tail  head  to  a  full,  well-turned  twist  should  be  appar- 
ent. From  one  side  the  hind  quarter  will  appear  long  and  broad, 
with  considerable  depth  of  flesh  to  the  rear.  The  whole  will  appear 
thick,  and  smoothly  covered  with  flesh. 

The  hocks  and  legs  indicate  the  capacity  for  fleshing  at  the 
hind  end.  If  the  hocks  are  strong,  muscular,  clean,  and  well 
placed,  with  no  special  tendency  to  come  together,  they  will  be 
generally  associated  with  thicker-fleshed  quarters  than  otherwise. 


BEEF  TYPE  OF  CATTLE 


173 


The  hocks  should  stand  squarely  under  the  animal,  so  that  a 
plumb  line  dropped  from  the  pin  bones  will  bisect  them  and  the 
shank  bone  of  the  leg  below.  Crooked  hocks  are  bad,  showing 
weak  conformation  and  ugly  form.  When  the  hocks  tend  to 
come  together  at  the  points  —  a  very  common  thing — the  toes 
point  out.  Only  very  rarely  do  the  toes  point  in.  The  necessity 
for  a  graceful  and  straight  position  of  the  hind  leg,  smooth- 
ness of  joint,  shortness  of  leg,  and  fineness  of  bone  is  apparent. 


Fig.  64.  The  grade  Shorthorn  steer  Flashlight,  shown  at  the  1904  Inter- 
national Live  Stock  Exposition  by  Purdue  University.  Winner  of 
first  honors  in  grade  and  cross-bred  classes.  This  picture  shows  a  fine 
example  of  beef  form  as  viewed  from  one  side.  Photograph  from 
Professor  J.  H.  Skinner 

The  tidder  of  the  beef  cow  is  too  frequently  ignored.  It  should 
be  of  good  size  and  shape,  extending  well  up  behind  and  in  front 
along  under  the  body,  with  four  well-placed  teats.  Every  beef 
cow  should  be  able  to  furnish  ample  milk  for  her  calf  for  the 
first  eight  months  of  lactation.  It  is  not  creditable  to  a  beef  cow 
to  have  an  ill-shaped  udder  or  to  produce  but  little  milk. 

The  quality  of  the  beef  animal  is  shown  in  bone,  skin,  hair,  ears, 
and  horn.  A  coarse  bone,  with  large  rough  joints,  long  legs,  and 
heavy  horns,  indicates  lack  of  quality.     If  the  ears  are  large  and 


174 


CATTLE 


coarse,  with  heavy  attachment,  there  is  also  lack  of  quality.  The 
most  signal  indication  of  quality  is  in  the  hide,  which  should 
always  be  mellow  and  pliable,  and  in  the  hair,  which  should  be 
silky  and  fine.  In  winter  there  are  thick,  fine  hairs  lying  in  great 
profusion  next  to  the  skin,  with  longer  ones  projecting  beyond, 
thus  providing  great  protection  from  rough  weather.  As  one 
views  an  animal  with  very  distinct  evidence  of  quality  in  the 
skin,  there  will  be  a  glisten  and  finish  to  the  coat  and  a  roll 
to  the  hide  which  only  goes  with  good  quality.  Taken  in  the 
hands,  along  over  the  ribs,  the  skin  seems  mellow  and  pliable 
to  the  touch,  being  easily  grasped  and  stretched.  A  very  thin 
hide  is  undesirable,  the  better  sort  having  a  moderate  thickness, 
exceeding  that  of  a  dairy  animal. 

The  fleshing  of  beef  cattle  is  very  important.  There  should  be 
uniformity  of  flesh  all  over  the  body,  even  though  it  be  not  a 
fattened  animal.  On  highly  fed  ones,  especially  steers,  the  flesh 
should  increase  in  thickness,  but  not  lose  its  uniform  distribu- 
tion over  the  frame.  The  palm  of  the  hand  pressed  along  the 
back,  shoulder,  or  side  should  find  no  evidence  of  irregular 
covering,  with  bare  spots  in  one  place  and  heavy  fleshing  near 
by.  Such  fleshing  indicates  an  undesirable  type  for  feeding  and 
killing. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

THE  SHORTHORN 

The  original  home  of  the  Shorthorn  breed  of  cattle  is  in  north- 
eastern England,  in  the  counties  of  York,  Durham,  and  North- 
umberland. The  North  Sea  borders  this  section  on  the  east, 
with  the  Cheviot  Hills  of  Scotland  the  boundary  on  the  north. 
Winding  its  way  through  a  beautiful  grazing  country,  the  river 
Tees  forms  the  dividing  line  between  Durham  on  the  north 
and  York,  the  largest  county  in  England,  on  the  south.  Here 
in  the  valley  of  the  Tees  the  Shorthorn  received  its  early 
development  and  improvement,  from  which  it  spread  out  over 
the  rest  of  Great  Britain  and  the  civilized  world.  This  valley 
country  has  beautiful  long  stretches  of  rolling  grass  lands  and 
fields  of  grain  and  roots,  but  farther  north  in  Northumberland 
and  south  in  York  the  land  becomes  rougher  and  more  hilly. 

The  origin  of  the  Shorthorn  is  naturally  veiled  in  obscurity. 
No  doubt  the  early  invaders  of  England  —  the  Romans,  Normans, 
and  others  —  brought  over  cattle  which  crossed  with  the  native 
English  stock.  It  has  been  assumed  that  even  prior  to  1600 
cattle  of  Shorthorn  type  were  bred  on  the  estates  of  the  earls 
and  dukes  of  Northumberland  in  Yorkshire.1  Black,  horned  cattle 
prevailed  more  or  less  in  Yorkshire,  while  farther  south,  in  Lin- 
coln and  vicinity,  white,  red,  and  other  colors  prevailed.  Early 
in  the  eighteenth  century  the  Teeswater  cattle  represented  one 
popular  type,  while  in  southeastern  Yorkshire  another  sort, 
known  as  the  Holderness,  was  developed.  About  the  middle  of 
this  same  century  Michael  Dobinson  and  Sir  William  St.  Quin- 
tin  brought  over  bulls  from  Holland,  and  used  these  in  their 
herds,  owned  in  Durham  and  Yorkshire  respectively.  In  1789 
George  Culley  wrote  : 

1  The  word  "shire"  in  Great  Britain  signifies  county,  and  is  often  used  as  a 
part  of  the  county  name,  as  "  Yorkshire,"  for  example. 

175 


176 


CATTLE 


I  remember  a  gentleman  of  the  county  of  Durham  (a  Mr.  Michael 
Dobinson),  who  went  in  the  early  part  of  his  life  into  Holland,  in  order  to 
buy  bulls  ;  and  those  he  brought  over,  I  have  been  told,  did  much  service 
in  improving  the  breed  ;  and  this  Mr.  Dobinson,  and  neighbors  even  in  my 
day,  were  noted  for  having  the  best  breeds  of  Shorthorned  cattle. 

Following  these  importations  of  Dobinson  and  St.  Quintin, 
came  others  of  more  inferior  stock,  such  as  really  injured  the 
beef  cattle  of  the  country.  By  Culley's  time,  however,  much  of 
this  evil  effect,  he  writes,  was  overcome.  Other  improvers  of  the 
early  Shorthorn  were  Sir  James  Pennyman,  the  Aislabies  of 
Studley  Royal,  the  Blacketts  of  Newby,  Millbank  of  Barning- 
ham,  James  Brown,  Stephenson,  Wetherell,  Maynard,  Snowdon, 
YVaistell,  and  Richard  and  William  Barker. 

The  more  distinguished  improvers  of  the  Shorthorn  really  date 
from  about  1780,  and  include  Charles  and  Robert  Colling, 
Thomas  Bates,  Thomas  Booth  and  his  sons  John  and  Richard, 
and  Amos  Cruickshank.     There  were  many  other  prominent  and 


Fig.  65.    Ketton  Hall,  the  home  of  Charles  Colling,  near  Darlington, 
England.    Photograph  by  the  author 

successful  breeders,  but  these  men  distinguished  themselves  as 
epoch  makers,  about  whose  careers  clusters  much  of  the  best  in 
Shorthorn  history. 

The  Colling  brothers.  These  were  Charles  and  Robert.   Charles 
was  born  in  1750  and  lived  at  Ketton,  just  north  of  Darlington 


THE  SHORTHORN 


l77 


in  Durham,  while  Robert,  born  in  1749,  lived  at  Barmpton,  not 
far  from  Charles.  They  sought  to  make  better  feeders,  have  their 
cattle  mature  early,  dress  out  with  less  offal,  and  have  more  con- 
stitution than  the  old  sort.  They  gathered  about  them  two  very 
famous  herds,  which  had  a  great  influence  in  uplifting  the  breed. 


Fig.  66.    A  rear  view  of  the  house  and  part  of  the  stable  at  Kirklevington,  near 
Yarm,  England,  the  residence  of  Thomas  Bates.    Photograph  by  the  author 

The  herd  of  Charles,  comprising  47  animals,  was  sold  at  auction 
in  18 10  for  an  average  of  about  $750  a  head.  The  herd  of 
Robert  was  sold  in  two  parts,  61  animals  in  18 18  averaging 
about  $650,  and  46  animals  in  1820  averaging  about  $250  each. 
So  great  a  work  did  the  Colling  brothers  do  that  they  have 
often  been  referred  to  as  the  founders  of  the  Shorthorn  breed. 
Robert  died  a  bachelor,  in  1820,  and  Charles  died  in  1836, 
leaving  a  widow  but  no  children.  The  Colling  brothers  founded 
the  Phoenix,  Wildair,  Princess,  Red  Rose,  Bright  Eyes,  Daisy, 
and  some  other  tribes. 

Thomas  Bates  was  born  in  Northumberland  in  1775  and  died 
at  his  Kirklevington  estate,  near  Yarm,  in  Yorkshire,  in  1849. 
He  early  became  acquainted  with  the  prominent  breeders  of  his 
time,  notably  the  Colling  brothers,  and  began,  the  systematic 
development  of  a  class  of  cattle  having  superior  dairy  as  well  as 
beef  qualities.  He  was  a  very  careful  investigator,  keeping  de- 
tailed records  of  the  relationship  of  food  consumed  to  beef  and 
milk  production.  His  cattle  had  much  quality,  were  rather  large 
for  the  breed,  possessed  great  dairy  capacity,  but  were  somewhat 


1 78 


CATTLE 


criticised  for  lack  of  constitution  and  breeding  capacity.  He  de- 
veloped the  Duchess,  Oxford,  Waterloo,  Cambridge  Rose,  Wild 
Eyes,  Foggathorpe,  and  other  tribes.  Bates  died  a  bachelor,  and 
with  his  death  in  1850  came  the  dispersal  of  his  herd  of  68 
animals  at  an  average  price  of  about  $335  per  head. 

The  Booth  family  became  prominent  in  Shorthorn  history 
with  the  establishment  of  a  herd  by  Thomas  Booth,  at  Killerby 
in  north  Yorkshire,  prior  to  1790.  His  herd  was  established  with 
good  Teeswater  cattle  and  animals  purchased  from  the  Colling 


Fig.  67.    One  corner  of  the  stable  at  Killerby,  the  home  of  Thomas  Booth 
in  Yorkshire.    Photograph  by  the  author 

brothers.  He  also  owned  an  estate  named  "  Warlaby,"  on  which 
he  lived  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life.  Thomas  had  two  sons, 
John  and  Richard,  who  took  up  the  work  where  the  father  left 
off  John  lived  at  Killerby  and  died  in  1857,  aged  seventy  years, 
while  Richard  lived  at  Studley  adjoining  Killerby,  and  later  at 
Warlaby,  where  he  died  in  1864,  aged  seventy-six.  These  two 
men  had  a  very  great  influence  on  Shorthorn  history,  and  really 
developed  the  breed  along  lines  adopted  by  the  Colling  brothers. 
The  herd  of  John  Booth  was  sold  at  auction  in  1852,  while  that  of 
Richard  was  inherited  by  his  nephew,  Thomas  C.  Booth,  who  died 


THE  SHORTHORN 


179 


in  1878.  A  son  of  the  latter,  in  the  prime  of  life,  now  maintains 
the  Booth  reputation  by  breeding  Shorthorns  at  Warlaby.  Thus 
Shorthorns  have  been  bred  by  the  Booth  family,  along  systematic 
lines,  for  over  a  century.  The  beef  type  was  emphasized,  easy- 
feeding,  thick-fleshed  animals  with  plenty  of  quality  and  strong 
heart  girth  being  sought.  Booth  cattle  were  rougher  and  more 
robust  appearing  than  Bates  cattle  and  met  with  much  favor. 
In  Ireland  in  particular  they  have  a  strong  hold.  Important 
among  the  Booth  tribes  are  the  Anna,  Isabella,  Medora,  Halnaby 
or  White  Strawberry,  Bracelet,  Moss  Rose,  Mantalini,  Blossom 
or  Fairholme,  and  Cherry  Blossom. 

Amos  Cruickshank  was  born  in  Aberdeen,  in  northeastern 
Scotland,  in  1808,  and  died  in  1895  at  Sittyton,  Aberdeen.  In 
partnership  with  his 
brother  Anthony,  who 
was  a  merchant  in  the  city 
of  Aberdeen,  Amos  in 
1837   took  possession  of 


Fig.  68.  The  farmhouse  of  William  Duthie  at 
Collynie,  Tarves,  Scotland.  Photograph  by 
the  author 


a  somewhat  rolling  farm, 
where  roots,  the  small 
grains,  and  grass  were 
produced.  Here  he  began 
to  select  and  buy  Short- 
horns  from  various 
sources,  choosing  animals 
that  possessed  plenty  of 
vigor  and  rapid  flesh- 
producing  qualities.  Gradually  he  developed  a  type  of  Short- 
horn known  as  Scotch,  which  is  essentially  broad  and  thick  of 
back,  deep  and  compact  of  body,  short  of  leg,  heavy  in  flesh- 
producing  quality,  and  early  maturing,  —  an  easy-keeping  sort  of 
much  vigor  and  superior  killing  quality.  Cruickshank  met  with 
much  success,  and  to-day  Scotch  cattle,  tracing  back  in  an  impor- 
tant degree  to  his  breeding,  are  meeting  with  great  favor  all  over 
the  world.  Among  the  important  tribes  established  by  him  are 
the  Violet,  Venus,  Mimulus,  Picotee,  Broadhooks,  Lady,  Non- 
pareil, Orange  Blossom,  Brawith  Bud,  Lancaster,  Victoria,  Secret, 
Lavender,  Spicy,  and  Lovely. 


180  CATTLE 

Other  important  Shorthorn  breeders  who  assisted  in  establish- 
ing the  breed  were  Christopher  Mason  of  Chilton ;  Jonas  Whit- 
taker  of  Otley  near  Leeds ;  Wetherell  of  Aldborough ;  Sir  Charles 
Knightley  of  Fawsley  Park,  Daventry,  and  William  Torr  of  Riby 
and  Aylesby,  all  of  England  ;  these  men,  and  more  recently  J. 
Deane  Willis  of  Bapton  Manor,  Codford,  had  an  important  influ- 
ence during  the  past  century.  In  Scotland,  besides  Cruickshank, 
Robertson  of  Ladykirk,  the  first  Scotch  breeder  of  Shorthorns ; 
John  Rennie  of  Phantassie,  Haddington  ;  Captain  Barclay  of 
Ury,  Stonehaven;  John  Hutcheson  of  Monyruy,  Peterhead ;  Grant 
Duff  of  Eden,  Aberdeen ;  William  Hay  of  Shethin,  Tarves ; 
Sylvester  Campbell  of  Kinellar  ;  W.  S.  Marr  of  Uppermill ;  and 
William  Duthie  of  Collynie,  Tarves,  materially  added  to  the  fame 
of  the  Shorthorn  breed. 

Individual  foundation  Shorthorns  of  interest  date  back  early 
into  the  eighteenth  century.  In  the  establishment  of  the  many 
families  or  tribes  of  Shorthorns  during  much  over  a  century  it 
is  but  natural  that  very  many  animals  of  great  merit  and  influ- 
ence on  the  breed  should  have  existed.  Only  a  few  of  these  can 
be  referred  to  here,  and  these  of  very  early  days.  The  Studley 
Bull  (626),  dropped  in  1737,  is  known  as  one  of  the  very  first 
important  Shorthorn  breeding  bulls.  James  Brown's  Red  Bull 
(97),  a  descendant  of  the  Studley  Bull,  met  with  much  success 
as  a  breeder  of  foundation  stock.  The  bull  Hubback  (319)  is 
regarded  by  some  as  the  founder  of  the  Shorthorn  breed.  He 
was  calved  in  1777  and  was  a  yellowish  red  with  some  white. 
He  was  sired  by  Snowdon's  Bull  (612)  and  was  a  direct  descend- 
ant of  the  Studley  Bull  (626).  His  dam  was  a  cow  of  Stephen- 
son's breeding  of  an  old  tribe.  Hubback  was  owned  by  various 
persons,  but  his  fame  is  chiefly  due  to  his  services  when  owned 
by  Robert  Colling  and  later  by  Charles,  who  paid  about  $40  for 
him.  Charles  Colling  used  him  two  years  and  then  sold  him 
in  1785  to  a  Mr.  Hubback  in  Northumberland,  from  whom  he 
got  his  name.  Hubback  sired  some  very  fine  heifers  at  Ketton, 
one  of  which,  Haughton,  bred  to  Richard  Barker's  Bull  (52), 
produced  the  bull  calf  Foljambe  (263)  which  became  a  great 
breeder.  A  son  of  his,  Bolingbroke  (86),  and  a  daughter,  Phoenix, 
mated,  produced  the  bull  Favorite  (262),  one  of  the  most  famous 


THE  SHORTHORN 


Itfl 


Shorthorn  bulls  of  early  history.  Favorite  was  dropped  in  1793 
and  died  in  1809.  He  was  mated  to  his  nearest  relations  in  the 
herd  by  Charles  Colling,  and  bred  to  his  dam  sired  the  heifer 
Young  Phoenix,  which  he  was  in  turn  bred  to,  resulting  in  the 
bull  Comet.  This  last  bull  was  very  beautiful,  and  reached  such 
great  public  favor  that  at  the  dispersion  sale  of  Charles  Colling 
in  1 8 10  he  brought  one  thousand  guineas  ($5000),  which  was 
the  highest  price  paid  up  to  that  time. 

Of  Booth  breeding,  some  of  the  most  famous  founders  were 
White  Strawberry,  Anna,  Isabella,  Moss  Rose,  and  Countess. 
The  latter  was  grandam  of  the  twins  Necklace  and  Bracelet,  two 
of  the  most  famous 
show  heifers  of  his- 
tory ;  Bracelet  became 
a  remarkable  breeder 
and  founder  of  a  tribe. 
Isabella  as  a  show  cow 
was  "matchless,"  yet 
she  also  was  a  great 
breeder.  The  bulls 
Young  Albion  (15), 
Pilot  (496),  Julius 
Caesar  (1143),  Buck- 
ingham (3239),  Crown 
Prince  (10087),  and  Windsor  (140 13)  were  leading  Booth  sires. 

In  the  herd  of  Thomas  Bates  foundation  stock  of  eminence 
began  with  Daisy  Bull  (186),  obtained  from  Charles  Colling.  In 
1804  Bates  bought  the  cow  Duchess  by  the  above  bull,  from 
which  in  1805  he  secured  the  bull  calf  Ketton  (709),  sired  by 
Favorite.  A  granddaughter  of  Duchess,  named  Young  Duchess, 
sired  by  Comet,  was  the  ancestress  of  the  Duchess  tribe  of  Bates, 
his  favorite  family.  The  Matchem  cow  from  which  the  Oxford 
tribe  descends,  the  Princess  cow  by  Favorite,  and  a  cow  known 
as  Acklam  Red  Rose  (Red  Rose  1st)  from  which  descends  the 
Cambridge  Roses  and  American  Rose  of  Sharons,  were  most 
important  foundation  dams  in  the  Bates  herd.  Of  the  bulls 
which  brought  fame  to  Bates,  the  more  conspicuous  were 
2d  Hubback  (1423)   by  The  Earl  (646),   Belvedere  (1706)  by 


Fig.  69.  Pride  of  Morning  (1205 51),  by  Star  of 
Morning  (12 1243).  Main  stock  bull  in  the  herd 
of  William  Duthie,  Scotland.  Photograph  by 
the  author 


I 82  CATTLE 

Waterloo  (2816),  Short  Tail  (2621)  by  Belvedere,  and  Duke  of 
Northumberland  (1940)  by  Belvedere.  The  Duke  bull,  out  of  the 
famous  show  cow  Duchess  34th,  Bates  regarded  as  the  greatest 
result  of  his  breeding  career. 

Up  in  Scotland  the  Cruickshanks  used  with  much  success  in 
their  herd  as  early  dams  Moss  Rose,  Venus,  Sunflower,  Phan- 
tassie,  Premium,  Fancy  by  Billy  (3 151),  Clipper  (also  by  Billy), 
Victoria   19th  by   Lord  John   (11731),   Pure  Gold,   Butterfly's 


Fig.  70.  White  Hall  Sultan  163573,  a  prominent  Shorthorn  show  bull  in  1904 
and  1905,  winning  the  highest  honors  at  the  International  Live  Stock 
Exposition  and  elsewhere.  In  1903  chief  stock  bull  of  E.  S.  Kelly,  Yel- 
low Springs,  Ohio ;  later  purchased  by  F.  W.  Harding,  Waukesha, 
Wisconsin.    Photograph  by  the  author 

Pride  by  Royal  Butterfly  (16862),  Spicy  by  Marmaduke  (14897), 
and  Lancaster  16th.  Among  the  sires  which  contributed  most 
to  the  success  of  the  Cruickshanks  were  Fairfax  Royal  (6987), 
bought  in  1845,  Matadore  (11800),  Lord  Raglan  (13244),  Lan- 
caster Comet  (1 1633),  Champion  of  England  (17526),  Royal 
Duke  of  Gloster  (29864),  and  Roan  Gauntlet  (35284). 

There  were  other  important  foundation  animals  in  the  minor 
herds  already  referred  to,  which  in  a  more  extended  considera- 
tion would  receive  proper  notice. 


THE  SHORTHORN 


183 


The  first  Shorthorns  imported  to  America  were  brought  to 
Virginia  in  1783  by  Gough  and  Miller,  and  though  not  called 
Shorthorns  the  evidence  shows  them  to  have  been  of  this  breed. 
These  men  also  imported  again  about  1792.  It  is  said  that  in 
1 79 1  and  also  in  1796  a  Mr.  Heaton  brought  Shorthorns  to  New 
York  State.  A  Mr.  Cox  also  brought  a  bull  and  two  cows  to 
Rensselaer  County,  New  York,  after  the  close  of  the  War  of 
18 12.  In  18 17  the  first  pedigreed  bulls,  Marquis  (408)  and 
Moscow  (9413),  were  brought  to  America,  S.  M.  Hopkins  im- 
porting them  into  the  Genesee  Valley  in  New  York.  What  are 
known  as  "The  Seventeens  "  were  imported  in  18 17  by  Colonel 
Lewis  Sanders  of 
Kentucky,  including 
four  bulls  and  four 
heifers.  One  of  these 
heifers  died  before 
reaching  Kentucky, 
but  the  others,  Mrs. 
Motte,  the  Durham 
Cow,  and  the  Tees- 
water  Cow,  were  the 
first  to  be  imported 
west  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  and  their  de- 
scendants are  known 
as  "The  Seven- 
teens."  In  18 17  and  18 18  importations  were  made  to  Massa- 
chusetts ;  in  1 82 1,  1822,  and  1823  importations  were  brought  to 
New  York  State,  and  from  then  on,  into  various  sections  of  the 
eastern  states. 

The  Ohio  Importing  Company,  organized  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio, 
in  1833,  with  about  fifty  stockholders,  became  the  most  impor- 
tant factor  in  introducing  Shorthorns  to  America  up  to  this  time. 
In  1834  Felix  and  Josiah  Renick  and  E.  J.  Harness  went  to 
England,  where  they  visited  Bates,  the  Booths,  Maynard,  Clark, 
and  other  famous  breeders,  and  purchased  nineteen  head  and 
brought  them  to  Ohio.  In  this  shipment  were  the  heifers  Rose 
of  Sharon  by  Belvedere,  bred  by  Thomas  Bates,  and  Young  Mary 


Fig.  71.  The  Lad  for  Me  140618,  a  well-known 
Shorthorn  show  bull  and  sire,  bred  and  owned  by 
J.  G.  Robbins  &  Sons,  Horace,  Indiana.  Photo- 
graph by  the  author 


1 84  CATTLE 

by  Jupiter,  bred  by  J.  Clark.  The  history  of  these  cows  is  insep- 
arably associated  with  Shorthorn  fame  in  America.  Importations 
were  also  made  in  1835  and  1836,  and  on  October  29,  1836, 
occurred  the  most  important  Shorthorn  auction  sale  held  in 
America,  when  this  importation  was  sold  off  and  the  herd  closed 
up.  Forty-three  animals  sold  for  $34,540,  an  average  of  $803.25 . 
The  formation  of  the  Ohio  Company  was  one  of  the  notable  steps 
in  American  Shorthorn  history,  although  later  numerous  other 
companies  were  organized  for  the  importation  of  the  breed. 

Shorthorn  characteristics.  Having  traced  briefly  the  influences 
surrounding  the  development  of  the  Shorthorn,  a  consideration 
of  the  characteristics  of  the  breed  is  here  appropriate.  In  gen- 
eral conformation  the  Shorthorn  adheres  closely  to  the  beef  type, 
though  certain  tribes,  notably  Bates  bred,  tend  strongly  enough 
to  milk  production  to  be  known  as  general  purpose  cattle.  In  size 
mature  cows  usually  weigh  about  1400  pounds,  though  they  fre- 
quently exceed  that  and  in  rare  cases  reach  2000  pounds.  The 
mature  bull  will  easily  attain  1800  to  2000  pounds  ;  many  weigh 
from  2000  to  2200,  and  weights  upward  to  250O  pounds  occur, 
though  the  latter  is  infrequent.  This  may  be  regarded  as  our 
largest  breed  of  cattle,  although  the  Hereford  is  a  close  second, 
and  may  be  considered  by  many  as  its  equal  in  weight  and  size. 
The  following  points  especially  apply  to  the  cow.  The  horn  is 
variable,  but  is  always  comparatively  small  and  short,  and  prefer- 
ably curves  forward,  with  the  tips  bending  inward  or  upward.  In 
color  a  waxy  yellowish  tint  is  preferred,  though  blackish  tips  are 
not  debarred.  The  head  should  be  lean  and  shapely,  and  short 
from  between  the  eyes  to  the  muzzle,  which  should  be  flesh  color 
and  broad,  with  large  nostrils.  A  dark  or  blackish  muzzle  is 
distinctly  objected  to  by  most  breeders.  The  neck  should  be 
short,  and  be  neatly  attached  to  the  head,  and  blend  smoothly 
into  the  shoulders.  Shorthorn  shoulders  tend  to  be  a  bit  promi- 
nent and  bare.  They  should  be  well  laid  in  and  smoothly  covered 
with  flesh.  Back  of  the  shoulders  the  crops  and  fore  flanks  are 
often  deficient,  and  lack  of  heart  girth  is  a  frequent  criticism  of 
the  breed.  Superior  animals  show  a  body  that  is  very  broad  of 
back,  strong  of  loin,  and  so  prominent  of  rib  as  to  give  a  large 
girth  and  digestive  capacity  of  the  first  order.    The  flanks  before 


THE  SHORTHORN  185 

and  behind  are  also  low  and  full.  A  thick,  deep  body  is  usually 
associated  with  a  low,  full  chest  and  prominent  breast,  —  essentials 
with  a  proper  constitutional  development.  The  brisket  should 
be  broad  and  deep  and  carried  forward  as  a  part  of  a  smooth, 
full,  and  attractive  breast.  The  hind  quarter  of  the  Shorthorn  is 
usually  typical  of  the  breed,  —  superior  in  its  general  development 
to  that  of  any  other  beef  breed.  Regarding  the  hips,  William 
Housman  writes  of  the  Shorthorn  :   "  In  fat  or  lean  animals  the 


Fig.  73.  Missie's  Diamond  221080,  the  junior  champion  Shorthorn  bull  at 
the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  St.  Louis,  1904.  Bred  and  owned  by 
D.  R.  Hanna,  Ravenna,  Ohio.  This  picture  shows  the  bull  as  a  short 
yearling.    Photograph  from  D.  Y.  Robertson 

hip  bone  must  be  liberally  covered,  not  bare,  hard,  or  sharp  ; 
each  hip  <  cleft,'  and  the  hollow  filled  with  elastic  flesh.  This  is 
an  important  test  of  the  quality  of  the  animal,  especially  in  the 
lean  state."  The  rump  is  usually  long,  level,  and  broad,  and  well 
covered  with  meat,  while  the  thighs  and  quarters  are  long,  thick, 
and  deep  from  front  to  rear,  showing  a  maximum  amount  of 
meat  for  this  quarter.  Animals  of  naturally  heavy  fleshing  quali- 
ties frequently  get  "patchy"  about  the  root  of  the  tail  at  the 
rump,  and  also  roll  some  on  the  sides,  thus  detracting  from  the 


1 86  CATTLE 

smoothness  of  finish  ;  but  these  are  characteristics  of  easily  fat- 
tened animals  only.  The  udder  of  the  Shorthorn  averages  decidedly 
greater  capacity  than  does  that  of  the  other  beef  breeds,  and  is 
a  noteworthy  feature.  No  beef  breed  is  better  able  to  nourish 
the  calf  than  the  Shorthorn.  It  is  due  to  emphasizing  the  impor- 
tance of  milk  production  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  best  breeders 
in  history  that  has  resulted  in  the  American  farmer  regarding 
the  Shorthorn  as  better  suited  to  general  farm  purposes  than 
any  other  breed.  In  limb  animals  of  this  breed  should  show- 
shortness  of  leg,  small,  clean  bone,  and  strong  yet  not  coarse 
joints.  A  criticism  often  made  of  Shorthorns,  and  not  without 
some  justice,  is  that  they  have  a  tendency  to  be  too  long  of 
leg.  This  has  been  especially  said  in  the  past  of  cattle  of  Bates's 
breeding,  and  this  criticism  has  been  materially  weakened  by  the 
influence  of  Scotch  blood. 

The  Shorthorn  bull  should  possess  in  the  main  the  desirable 
features  of  the  female,  without  her  feminine  qualities.  His  head, 
horns,  and  neck  naturally  should  be  stronger  and  larger,  the 
latter  being  thick  and  arched,  the  whole  front  showing  character 
and  breeding  power.  The  horns  of  the  bull  are  less  bent  than 
those  of  the  cow,  and  should  be  prominent  yet  not  coarse.  Over 
the  forehead  and  neck  should  be  a  covering  of  thick,  fine,  and 
moderately  long  hair.  In  general  form  the  bull  should  also  be 
broad  in  front,  with  full  deep  bosom,  broad  powerful  arms,  a  com- 
paratively shorter  and  more  blocky  body  than  that  possessed  by 
the  cow  and  with  greater  relative  size. 

The  color  of  the  Shorthorn  is  in  part  distinctive  of  the  breed. 
This  may  be  pure  red,  red  and  white,  pure  white,  or  roan,  the 
latter  being  a  commingling  of  red  and  white  hairs  without  form- 
ing solid  color.  The  shades  vary,  the  red  ranging  from  light  to 
dark  and  the  roan  from  light  or  white  roan  to  dark  or  red  roan. 
No  other  breed  claims  the  roan  color.  Black  is  not  a  Shorthorn 
color,  and  should  not  occur  in  pure-bred  animals.  The  impor- 
tance of  the  color  varies  in  the  estimation  of  different  persons, 
but  color  has  never  indicated  the  best  animals,  and  wise  breeders 
select  on  the  basis  of  intrinsic  merit  rather  than  color. 

The  relative  prevalence  of  the  different  Shorthorn  colors  has 
been  brought  out  by  the  author  through  researches  made  in  the 


THE  SHORTHORN 


187 


American  Shorthorn  herdbooks.  The  colors  of  10,000  head 
registered  between  1859  and  1903,  distributed  over  the  entire 
period,  shows  the  following  distribution  :  red,  4943,  red  and 
white,  2748  ;  roan,  2034  ;  and  white,  275.  This  record  involved 
7000  bulls  and  3000  cows.  During  the  period  of  forty-four 
years  the  percentage  of  red  increased,  while  the  other  colors 
relatively  decreased.  In  the  past  some  sections  have  been  con- 
sidered as  favoring  certain  colors,  as  for  example,  Kentucky  the 
red.  In  the  stock  yards  the  roan  has  been  long  regarded  with 
favor  as  a  prime  feeder  and  killer. 

In  quality  the  Shorthorn  ranks  very  high.  The  mellowness 
and  elasticity  of  skin  and  fineness  of  hair  and  bone  are  character- 
istics indelibly  stamped 
on  the  breed. 

The  Shorthorn  as  a 
butcher's  beast  ranks  in 
the  first  class.  All  of  the 
really  great  British  breed- 
ers had  in  mind  the  im- 
portance of  the  Shorthorn 
as  a  beef  producer,  and 
Cruickshank  gave  this 
feature  special  distinction. 
In  the  leading  fat  stock 
shows  of  Great  Britain  and  America,  Shorthorn  steers  far  out- 
number any  other  breed,  while  in  the  stock  yards  Shorthorn 
grades  largely  predominate.  The  Shorthorn  produces  a  high- 
class  beef,  and  has  the  strong  loin  and  hind-quarter  development 
associated  with  profitable  production.  If  compared  with  the 
Aberdeen  Angus,  the  Shorthorn  will  not  dress  out  quite  as  high 
a  percentage  of  meat  to  offal,  though  the  difference  is  not  large  ; 
also  the  dressed  carcass  of  the  Shorthorn  will  show  somewhat  more 
tallow  and  external  patches  of  fat  than  will  the  Angus.  In  the 
records  of  feeding  experiments  with  different  breeds  given  by 
Professor  W.  A.  Henry,  twenty -six  Shorthorns  fed  at  five  different 
experiment  stations  averaged  15  10  pounds  at  10 11  days,  gained 
a  daily  average  of  1.50  pounds  from  birth,  and  showed  an  average 
dressed  weight  of  64.4  per  cent.    At  the  1905  International  Live 


Fig. 


A    Shorthorn    cow    in    the    herd    of 


Queen  Victoria  at  Windsor  in  1900. 
graph  by  the  author 


Photo- 


1 88  CATTLE 

Stock  Exposition  the  best  record  of  a  Shorthorn  in  the  two-year 
carcass  test  was  to  dress  out  62  per  cent.  In  the  car  lots  the 
best  record  was  64.2  per  cent. 

The  Shorthorn  steer  in  the  show  ring  has  not  in  recent  years 
been  maintaining  his  reputation  as  a  grand  champion,  the  pure- 
bred or  grade  Aberdeen  Angus  or  Hereford  surpassing  him 
repeatedly.  The  following  are  the  Shorthorn  grand  champions 
at  the  American  Fat  Stock  Show  at  Chicago  from  1878  to  1892  : 


Year 

Name  of  Steer 

Weight 

Owner  and  Location 

1878 

John  Sherman 

2195  lb. 

J.  D.  Gillett,  Illinois 

1879 

Nichols 

2060  " 

J.  H.  Graves,  Kentucky 

1880 

Nichols 

2465  " 

J.  H.  Graves,  Kentucky 

1881 

McMullen 

2095  " 

J.  D.  Gillett,  Illinois 

1882 

McMullen 

2565  " 

J.  D.  Gillett,  Illinois 

1884 

Clarence  Kirklevington 

2400  " 

Bow  Park  Farm,  Canada 

1887 

Doctor  Glick 

i85S  " 

D.  M.  Moninger,  Iowa 

1889 

Rigdon 

1950  " 

Elbert  &  Fall,  Iowa 

1890 

Nonesuch 

2090  " 

W.  H.  Renick,  Kentucky 

Shorthorn  steers  at  the   International  Live  Stock  Exposition 

have  not  yet  won  a  grand  championship  since  the  establishment 
of  that  show  in  1900.  The  following  are  the  breed  champion 
pure-bred  Shorthorn  steers  at  this  show  : 

1900  Cumberland  Chunk,  shown  by  T.  J.  Ryan  &  Son,  Iowa. 

1 90 1  Prince  of  Quality,  shown  by  Iowa  Agricultural  College. 

1902  Prince  of  Quality,  shown  by  Iowa  Agricultural  College. 

1903  Silver  Crown,  shown  by  Iowa  Agricultural  College. 

1904  Auditor,  shown  by  Abram  Renick,  Kentucky. 

1905  Trout  Creek  Wanderer,  shown  by  Purdue  University,  Indiana. 

Among  grades  and  crosses  the  Shorthorns  have  only  rarely 
held  a  prominent  place  in  the  six  last  shows,  as  may  be  seen  : 

1900  Got  no  nearer  than  fifth  place  in  any  class. 

1 901  Right  Sort  secured  third  place.    Shown  by  Wm.  Smiley,  Iowa. 

1 902  In  the  entire  list  of  five  classes,  of  the  first  five  in  each  class,  or  twenty- 

five  in  all,  were  only  three  Shorthorn  grades,  each  being  third  in 
class. 


THE  SHORTHORN  1 89 

1903  In  five  classes,  of  five  highest-ranking  animals  in  each,  only  five  were 

Shorthorn  grades  or  crosses,  three  being  in  junior  calf  class. 

1904  Flashlight,  shown  by  Purdue  University,  Indiana,   was  champion  of 

all  grades  and  crosses. 

1905  In  five  classes  third  place  was  highest,  this  being  secured  in  two- 

year-old,  junior  yearling,  and  senior  calves. 

The  importance  of  the  Shorthorn  in  grading  or  crossing,  in  spite 
of  what  is  brought  out  in  the  show-ring  steer  test,  is  most 
important.    No  breed  thus  far  has  done  so  much   to  improve 


Fig.  74.  Golden  Thistle  (imp.)  by  Roan  Gauntlet  (352S4).  A  very  beautiful 
example  of  the  Scotch  type  in  the  former  herd  of  Colonel  W.  A.  Harris, 
Linwood,  Kansas.    Photograph  from  Colonel  Harris 

beef  stock  as  this.  Shorthorn  bulls  mated  to  grade  cows  have 
revolutionized  the  character  of  the  meat  stock  of  the  world.  All 
over  America  to-day  herds  of  excellence  may  be  found,  —  animals 
graded  up  by  Shorthorn  bulls.  In  the  principal  stock  yards  of 
America  the  blood  of  this  breed  predominates,  and  well-finished, 
high-grade  Shorthorn  steers  are  always  at  a  premium  with  the 
butcher.  In  Scotland  and  England  white  Shorthorn  bulls  bred 
on  Galloway  or  Angus  cows  produce  what  is  termed  "  blue 
grays,"  which  as  steers  meet  with  the  highest  market  favor, 
being  steel  gray  in  color  and  showing  much  quality  and  superior 


190 


CATTLE 


killing  value.  Animals  of  this  breeding  shown  at  the  Interna- 
tional Exposition  by  the  Iowa  Agricultural  College  have  met 
with  much  favorable  comment.  Along  with  the  Hereford  and 
Aberdeen  Angus  the  Shorthorn  has  been  a  power  in  improving 
the  blood  of  the  cattle  on  the  ranges  of  the  far  West.  The  dis- 
appearance of  the  old  Texas  type  of  steer  is  largely  due  to  the 
influence  of  Shorthorn  bulls  on  the  range. 

The  Shorthorn  from  the  dairy  point  of  view  ranks  high.    In 
England  a  great  percentage  of  the  dairy  herds  are  of  Shorthorn 


J 

J 

/'^^igJifjsgH^.    -isl^ml  iB 

w  dd 

^m                                                         -'      *S 

. 

Fig.  75.  A  choice  example  of  a  dairy  Shorthorn.  A  grade  cow,  first  in  Dairy 
Cow  class  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show  at  York  in 
1900.  In  1899  this  cow  was  shown  thirteen  times,  winning  first  place 
in  each  case.    Photograph  by  the  author 

blood.  As  one  crosses  the  midland  and  southern  counties  he  may 
see  large  numbers  of  Shorthorns  with  udders  indicating  great 
milking  capacity.  Much  of  the  milk  shipped  into  London  comes 
from  Shorthorn  herds.  The  author  visited  one  farm  in  Berkshire 
where  some  five  hundred  cows  of  this  breed  were  milked  daily  and 
the  product  shipped  to  London.  In  the  United  States  many 
farmers,  notably  in  the  central  West,  rely  upon  Shorthorn  cows 
for  their  milk  supply. 


THE  SHORTHORN 


191 


As  has  been  already  indicated,  as  a  result  of  hereditary  trans- 
mission, and  the  early  breeding  of  Bates  and  others,  the  Short- 
horn produces  an  abundance  of  milk.  No  beef  breed  equals  it. 
Shorthorns  generally  may  be  in  a  measure  grouped  into  two 
classes,  the  beefy  type  and  the  general  purpose  sort.  As  a  rule, 
it  is  true,  the  latter  class  will  not  fatten  as  easily  and  does  not 
present  the  beef  conformation  in  as  high  a  degree  as  does  the 
former.  Even  then  the  beefy  class  of  Shorthorn  surpasses  the 
Hereford,  Aberdeen  Angus,  and  Galloway  in  furnishing  milk  for 
its  offspring. 

Shorthorn  dairy  records  have  been  repeatedly  made  in  public 
and  private  tests.  The  most  important  public  dairy  record  of  the 
breed  made  in  America  up  to  this  time  occurred  in  1893  at  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago,  when  cattle  of  this 
breed  competed  against  herds  of  Jersey  and  Guernsey.  In  the 
cheese-making  test  of  14  days,  the  Shorthorn  ranked  third,  pro- 
ducing 12,186.9  pounds  of  milk,  from  which  was  made  1077.6 
pounds  of  cheese.  The  Shorthorn  cow  Nora  stood  second  to  a 
Jersey,  producing  60.56  pounds  cheese  at  a  net  profit  of  $6.27. 
In  the  butter-making  test  for  90  days,  in  which  gain  in  live 
weight  was  credited,  the  following  results  were  secured  : 


Breed 

Number 
Cows 

Milk 
lb. 

Butter 
lb. 

Gain  Live 
Weight 

Net  Profit 

Jersey     .... 
Shorthorn  .     .     . 
Guernsey    .     .     . 

25 
23 
25 

73,478.8 
66,263.2 
61,781.7 

4573-95 
2890.86 

3360.43 

776 

2826 

466 

^1323-81 
9H-I3 

997.63 

This  was  a  very  creditable  showing,  especially  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  Shorthorns  were  not  selected  with  the  great  pains  and 
expense  that  the  Jerseys  were,  and  did  not  represent  as  many 
high-class  dairy  specimens  as  did  the  other  breeds.  Professor 
Jas.  Long  of  England,  who  inspected  the  cows,  reported  on  his 
return  home  that  in  England  they  would  not  rank  high  as  dairy 
Shorthorns.  In  this  test  the  cow  Nora  made  3679.8  pounds  of 
milk,  yielding  160. 5  7  pounds  butter,  and  gained  1 15  pounds;  while 
the  Jersey  cow  Brown  Bessie,  which  led  this  breed,  made  3634 


192 


CATTLE 


pounds  milk,  yielding  2 16.66  pounds  butter,  and  gained  81  pounds 
live  weight.  In  a  30  days'  butter  test  at  the  Columbian  24  Short- 
horns made  15,618.3  pounds  milk,  yielding  662.66  pounds  butter, 
at  a  net  profit  of  $1 19. 13.  Both  Jersey  and  Guernsey  made  less 
milk  but  more  butter  and  a  greater  net  profit.  In  this  test  the 
best  Shorthorn  cow  was  Kitty  Clay  4th.  She  produced  1592.8 
pounds  milk,  yielding  62.24  pounds  butter,  showing  a  net  profit  of 
$19.57.  In  a  fourth  test  of  one  week  six  Shorthorn  heifers 
under  three  years  old  competed  with  six  Jersey  heifers,  the 
Shorthorns  producing  2581  pounds  milk,  yielding  122.36  pounds 
butter,  at  a  net  profit  of  $47.42  ;  the  Jerseys  gave  3356.6  pounds 

milk,  yielding  194.22 
pounds  butter  and  a  net 
profit  of  $56.27. 

The  dairy  test  of  Short- 
horns at  the  Louisiana 
Purchase  Exposition  in 
1904  yielded  more  satis- 
factory returns  than  has 
any  previous  public  test 
of  the  breed.  In  a  test  of 
120  days,  in  which  20 
Shorthorns  were  carried 
entirely  through,  the  cows 
made  an  average  of  442 1.6 
pounds  milk,  165.3  pounds  butter  fat,  382.7  pounds  solids  not  fat, 
and  an  average  gain  in  weight  during  1 14  days  of  105.3  pounds. 
Numerous  public  dairy  tests  of  Shorthorns  have  demonstrated 
the  ample  capacity  of  the  breed  at  the  pail.  In  1901,  at  the 
Pan-American  Exposition,  between  May  1  and  October  31,  five 
Shorthorn  cows  produced  a  total  of  1307.55  pounds  churned 
butter,  yielding  a  net  profit  of  $164.77.  At  tne  London  Dairy 
Show  in  1904  a  fine  showing  of  Shorthorns  was  made,  one  cow 
producing  58  pounds  milk  in  a  day,  and  14  averaging  46.6 
pounds  milk  per  day.  Many  state-fair  records  show  the  Short- 
horn to  yield  a  liberal  milk  flow.  An  interesting  record  of  a 
grade  is  the  cow  Rose,  that  at  the  Wisconsin  Experiment  Station 
in   326  days  produced   10,163   pounds  milk,   containing  433.82 


Fig.  76.  Fair  Queen,  the  champion  Shorthorn 
cow  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition 
in  1904.  Owned  by  E.  W.  Bowen,  Delphi, 
Indiana.    Photograph  by  the  author 


THE  SHORTHORN 


193 


pounds  butter  fat,  equivalent  to  506.12  pounds  butter.  Deduct- 
ing cost  of  feed,  there  was  a  net  profit  from  Rose  of  $79.86. 
One  of  the  very  best  private  dairy  records  for  an  entire  herd 
of  grade  Shorthorns  comes  from  John  Kingsbury  of  South 
Dakota,  who  in  1898  reports  16  cows  averaging  6000  pounds 
milk,  from  which  was  made  an  average  of  301  pounds  5  ounces 
butter,  while  in  1899  the  same  number  of  cows  yielded  an 
average  of  6342  pounds  milk  and  317  pounds  5  ounces  butter. 


Fig.  77.  White  Heather,  first-prize  and  champion  Shorthorn  cow  at  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show  of  1904.  One  of  the  most  beautiful 
specimens  of  the  breed  seen  in  England  in  recent  years.  Bred  by  J.  Deane 
Willis.  Photograph  from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berkhamsted, 
England 

The  prices  received  for  Shorthorns  range  up  to  higher  figures 
than  for  any  other  breed  of  cattle.  For  over  a  century  high 
prices  have  been  obtained  at  both  private  and  public  sales.  Many 
bulls  have  changed  hands  at  $5000  each  since  the  time  of 
Charles  Colling's  sale  in  18 10  when  Comet  was  the  first  to  bring 
this  figure.  The  sale  of  Walcott  and  Campbell,  held  Septem- 
ber 10,  1873,  at  New  York  Mills,  New  York,  is  the  record- 
breaking  Shorthorn  sale  of  history.  At  this  time  109  animals 
sold  for  $381,990,  an  average  of  $3504.  The  cow  Eighth 
Duchess  of   Geneva  brought   $40,600,  the  highest  price  ever 


194  CATTLE 

paid  for  either  cow  or  bull,  while  18  other  animals  ranged  from 
$5000  up  to  $35,000  each,  the  latter  being  the  price  paid  for 
Tenth  Duchess  of  Geneva.  The  bull  Second  Duke  of  Oneida 
brought  $12,000.  In  1869  Daniel  McMillan  sold  at  Xenia, 
Ohio,  at  auction  71  head  which  averaged  $864.61  each,  while 
in  1874  Colonel  W.  S.  King  of  Minnesota  sold  in  Chicago 
79  head  at  an  average  of  $1628  each,  the  bull  Second  Duke  of 
Hillhurst  selling  at  $14,000.  Between  1870  and  1880  there 
were  sold  26,151  Shorthorns  at  auction  in  the  United  States  at 
an  average  price  of  $294  per  head.  Between  1891  and  1900 
inclusive  the  Kansas  Board  of  Agriculture  reports  15,741  head 
sold  at  auction  at  an  average  price  of  $138.41.  One  of  the  most 
important  high-priced  sales  of  recent  years  was  the  dispersal 
sale  of  the  Uppermill  Herd  of  W.  S.  Marr  in  Scotland  in  1904, 
when  113  animals  brought  about  $780  each,  the  bull  Bapton 
Favorite  heading  the  list  at  ^1200,  or  $6000.  At  this  same 
time  William  Duthie  of  Collynie,  Tarves,  near  by,  sold  18  bull 
calves  at  an  average  of  about  $1 130  each. 

The  geographical  distribution  of  the  Shorthorn  is  most  wide- 
spread, no  other  breed  equaling  it  in  this  respect.  It  is  so  well 
suited  to  a  wide  range  of  conditions,  and  has  been  so  extensively 
distributed,  that  it  has  been  termed  "the  universal  intruder." 
It  is  generally  found  in  North  America  ;  in  South  America,  more 
particularly  in  Argentina  ;  in  Europe,  being  the  most  promi- 
nent breed  on  the  British  Isles,  although  bred  to  some  extent  on 
the  Continent ;  in  Australasia,  where  it  has  long  met  with  favor  ; 
and  to  some  extent  in  South  Africa  and  Asia.  In  the  United 
States  the  Shorthorn  is  the  most  popular  breed  of  cattle,  as 
attendance  at  the  great  shows,  especially  in  the  states  of  the 
Mississippi  Valley  north  of  the  Ohio,  will  demonstrate.  The  evi- 
dence of  its  wide  distribution  speaks  for  the  adaptability  of  the 
breed.  However,  on  the  western  range,  under  severe  winter 
conditions,  and  where  u  roughing  it  "  is  required,  the  Shorthorn 
will  not  thrive  quite  equal  to  the  Hereford  or  Galloway. 

Organizations  for  the  promotion  of  Shorthorn  cattle  precede 
all  other  breeding  associations.  The  first  live-stock  registry  was 
the  Shorthorn  herdbook,  published  by  George  Coates  of  York- 
shire, England,  in  1822.   This  forms  the  foundation  of  the  English 


THE  SHORTHORN  1 95 

Shorthorn  Herdbooky  known  as  Coates's  Herdbook,  which  in 
1904  attained  its  fiftieth  volume.  Mr.  Coates  edited  the  first 
five  volumes  when,  owing  to  his  death  in  1846,  he  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  H.  Strafford,  who  served  as  editor  of  the  next  fifteen 
volumes.  The  Shorthorn  Society  of  the  United  Kingdom  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland  in  1876  assumed  control  of  the  pub- 
lication of  the  herdbook,  and  through  its  editing  committee  has 
ever  since  maintained  supervision  of  the  records  of  the  Society. 
The  first  volume  of  the  American  Shorthorn  Herdbook  appeared 
in  1846,  being  published  by  Lewis  F.  Allen  of  New  York.  In 
1869  the  American  SJiortJiom  Record  first  appeared,  being  pub- 
lished by  A.  J.  Alexander  of  Kentucky,  and  ten  volumes  were 
issued.  In  1878  the  Ohio  Shorthorn  Breeders'  Association  pub- 
lished a  record  and  followed  it  with  two  others.  In  1882  the 
American  Shorthorn  Breeders'  Association  absorbed  these  and 
continued  the  publication  of  the  old  herdbook  established  by 
Allen.  The  Canadian  ShortJiorn  Herdbook  first  appeared  in 
1867,  the  British  American  ShortJiorn  Hei'dbook  appeared  in 
1 88 1,  and  the  Dominion  ShortJiorn  Herdbook  in  1887,  the  latter 
absorbing  the  other  two.  The  American  SJiortJiom  Herdbook 
now  numbers  sixty-five  volumes,  and  new  volumes  are  appearing 
yearly.  Already  over  600,000  Shorthorns  have  been  registered  in 
the  United  States,  and  many  thousands  in  Canada.  This  breed 
is  also  promoted  by  several  state  Shorthorn  breeders'  associations. 


Fig.  78.    Shorthorns  of  the  Royal  House  on  the  pasture  at  Windsor, 
England.    Photograph  by  the  author 


196  CATTLE 

Men  who  have  done  much  to  promote  the  Shorthorn  in  America 

since  early  days  are  many.  In  the  United  States  the  breeders 
number  thousands.  Among  those  who  rendered  signal  service  in 
promoting  the  breed  during  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century  are 
the  following  :  Lewis  F.  Allen,  J.  O.  Sheldon,  and  Samuel  Thorne 
of  New  York;  R.  A.  Alexander,  B.  F.  and  A.  Van  Meter, 
B.  B.  Groom  &  Son,  the  Renicks,  T.  S.  Moberly,  and  William 
Warfield  of  Kentucky  ;  A.  C.  Stevenson,  General  Solomon  Mere- 
dith, Thomas  Wilhoit,  S.  F.  Lockridge,  and  Robbins  &  Sons  of 
Indiana  ;  J.  H.  Potts,  J.  H.  Pickrell,  and  C.  B.  Dustin  of  Illinois  ; 
Luther  Adams,  Robert  Miller,  John  Myers,  and  C.  C.  Norton  of 
Iowa  ;  W.  A.  Harris  of  Kansas  ;  George  Harding  of  Wisconsin  ; 
and  T.  C.  Jones,  Daniel  McMillan,  and  C.  L.  Gerlaugh  of  Ohio. 
In  Canada  M.  H.  Cochrane  and  George  Brown  had  very  famous 
herds.  In  connection  with  this  subject  Mr.  A.  H.  Sanders,  manag- 
ing editor  of  the  Breeders  Gazette,  should  be  mentioned  as  one 
who  with  his  able  pen  has  done  more  to  promote  the  interests 
of  the  Shorthorn  than  any  other  author  of  recent  years. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

THE  POLLED  DURHAM 

The  origin  of  the  Polled  Durham.  In  consideration  of  the  fact 
that  Polled  Durham  cattle  are  either  pure-bred  Shorthorns  or 
nearly  so,  the  author  does  not  regard  it  as  necessary  to  devote 
much  space  to  them  other  than  historical,  for  otherwise  what 
applies  to  the  Shorthorn  applies  to  the  Polled  Durham,  excepting 
in  the  head  variation.  This  so-called  breed  is  divided  into  two 
groups,  and  the  origin  of  each  may  be  discussed  separately. 

The  "  single  standard"  Polled  Durham  was  the  first  type  of 
hornless  Shorthorn  to  attract  attention  in  America.  This  is  the 
result  of  uniting  native  mulley  cows  with  pure-bred  Shorthorn 
bulls.  Cattle  of  such  blood  lines  are  quite  commonly  designated 
as  "  single  standard,"  because  of  being  eligible  to  registration 
only  in  the  Polled  Durham  Herdbook.  When  the  movement 
for  dehorning  got  well  started  nearly  twenty  years  ago,  men  here 
and  there  began  to  seek  combinations  by  which  the  horns  might 
be  bred  off.  Some  men  who  were  breeders  of  Shorthorns,  or 
who  believed  in  the  Shorthorn  type,  sought  to  breed  hornless 
cattle.  Among  the  pioneers  in  this  work  were  W.  S.  Miller, 
Dr.  W.  W.  Crane,  R.  Clawson,  and  Peter  Shafer  of  Ohio,  J.  F. 
Burleigh  of  Illinois,  J.  H.  Miller  of  Indiana,  and  T.  Dunham  of 
Iowa.  These  men  used  pure  Shorthorn  bulls  on  mulley  cows  of 
Shorthorn  type,  and  so  finally  developed  what  they  termed  the 
Polled  Durham  breed.  Cattle  of  this  breeding  were  quite  like 
Shorthorns,  tending  toward  the  dual-purpose  type,  were  inclined 
to  be  leggy,  and  hardly  met  the  demands  of  the  Shorthorn 
critics  for  thickness  of  flesh.  Those  that  had  true  polled  heads 
were  used  for  breeding,  and  thus  gradually  was  developed,  mainly 
in  western  Ohio,  herds  of  Polled  Durham  cattle. 

The  "double  standard"  Polled  Durham  represents  the  demand 
of  Shorthorn  breeders  and  others  for  a  pure  hornless  class  of 

197 


198  CATTLE 

Shorthorn  cattle.  These  are  often  termed  "double  standard" 
because  of  being  eligible  to  registration  in  both  the  American 
Shorthorn  Herdbook  and  the  Polled  Durham  Herdbook.  Very 
naturally,  with  the  development  of  the  "  single  standard  "  class, 
breeders  began  to  watch  for  pure-bred  Shorthorns  free  of  horns. 
This  branch  has  its  origin  in  several  Shorthorn  families,  notably 
the  White  Rose,  Young  Phyllis,  and  Gwynne. 

The  cow  Oakwood   Gwynne  4th,  registered  in  Volume  XV 
of  the  American  Shorthorn  Herdbook,  was  bred  by  W.  S.  King 


9mgz 


Fig.  79.  Golden  Hero  2847-150363,  the  leading  Polled  Durham  bull  on 
the  show  circuit  in  1903  and  1904.  Grand  champion  male  of  the  breed 
at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Owned  and  exhibited  by 
A.  C.  Woods  &  Sons,  Pendleton,  Indiana.    Photograph  from  owners 

of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  and  was  calved  May  12,  1873.  She 
had  but  very  slight  horns,  or  scurs,  being  almost  polled.  Bred  to 
Seventh  Duke  of  Hillhurst  34221,  she  produced  twin  female 
calves,  Mollie  Gwynne  and  Nellie  Gwynne  (Vol.  XXIII,  p.  728), 
that  developed  true  polled  heads.  When  later  bred  to  Bright 
Eyes  Duke  31894,  she  produced  as  a  result  a  red  bull  calf  that 
was  a  true  polled  animal,  which  is  recorded  as  King  of  Kine 
87412.  In  1888  W.  S.  Miller  of  Elmore,  Ohio,  purchased  these 
three  offspring  of  Oakwood  Gwynne  4th,  and  with  them 
developed  a  herd  of  pure  polled  Shorthorns.  King  of  Kine  was 
used  in  the  herd  three  years  and  proved  a  very  prepotent  breeder, 


THE  POLLED  DURHAM  1 99 

some  90  per  cent  of  his  calves  from  horned  cows  being  polled. 
He  was  used  on  cows  of  the  Rose  of  Sharon,  Young  Mary,  and 
Phyllis  tribes  with  much  success.  Then  a  son  of  his,  Ottawa 
Duke  109292,  out  of  Nellie  Gwynne,  was  used  in  the  herd,  and 
all  his  offspring  proved  hornless.  Later  he  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Dr.  W.  W.  Crane,  in  whose  herd  he  rendered  valuable 
service.  Ottawa  Duke  sired  Miami  Boy  1 165 17,  and  Tippecanoe 
4th    12 1 365,  well-known  sires   in  the  Crane  herd.     Mr.  J.   H. 


Fig.  80.  Ruby  of  Buttonwood,  grand  champion  Polled  Durham  cow  at 
the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Owned  by  Fletcher  S. 
Hines,  Indianapolis,  Indiana.    Photograph  by  the  author 

Miller  of  Indiana  early  became  a  celebrated  breeder  of  Polled 
Durhams,  and  in  1893,  with  some  others,  made  at  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition  the  first  notable  exhibit  of  this  breed. 
Mr.  Miller's  bull  Young  Hamilton  114 169,  a  pure  Shorthorn, 
and  the  Columbian  Exposition  Polled  Durham  Sweepstakes  male, 
rendered  valuable  pioneer  service  in  his  herd. 

The  important  requirements  for  registering  Polled  Durham 
cattle,  as  originally  adopted  by  the  American  Polled  Durham 
Association,  were  as  follows:  (1)  they  must  have  true  polled 
heads  ;    (2)  the  cattle  must  have  the  color  and  characteristic 


200  CATTLE 

markings  of  the  Shorthorn  ;  (3)  they  must  have  not  less  than 
87^  per  cent  of  Shorthorn  blood  in  1893,  at  least  93!  per  cent 
after  1896,  and  fully  96!  per  cent  after  1899.  Volume  III  of  the 
American  Polled  Durham  Herdbook,  published  in  1905,  con- 
tains the  by-laws  of  the  American  Polled  Durham  Association 
as  adopted  April  29,  1902.  Section  X,  which  qualifies  registra- 
tion and  covers  the  old  rule,  is  as  follows  : 

Animals  to  be  eligible  to  entry  in  the  American  Polled  Durham  Herdbook 
must  be  at  least  six  months  old  ;  must  be  naturally  hornless ;  must  have 
both  parents  recorded  therein  or  have  one  parent  recorded  in  the  book  and 
the  other  parent  recorded  in  the  America?i  Shorthorn  Herdbook  or  other  gen- 
erally accepted  shorthorn  herdbook  ;  and  further,  must  have  an  ancestry, 
that  are  eligible,  recorded  in  the  A7nerican  Polled  Durham  Herdbook. 

The  promotion  of  Polled  Durham  interests  is  officially  super- 
vised by  the  American  Polled  Durham  Breeders'  Association, 
organized  at  Chicago  in  1889.  Three  volumes  of  the  herdbook 
have  since  been  published  up  to  1906.  It  is  to  be  noted  in  this 
connection  that  breeders  are  seeking  to  produce  mainly  Polled 
Durhams  eligible  to  registration  in  the  American  Shorthorn  Herd- 
book.  The  greater  the  percentage  of  "  double  standard  "  Polled 
Durhams  produced  the  less  the  necessity  of  maintaining  an  inde- 
pendent herdbook  for  the  polled  cattle  of  the  breed. 

The  distribution  of  Polled  Durhams  is  fairly  widespread  in 
the  United  States,  but  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  and 
other  Mississippi  Valley  states  lead  in  their  development.  In 
1894  Mr.  J.  H.  Miller  of  Indiana  exported  several  head  to  the 
Argentine  in  South  America,  and  since  then  has  from  time  to 
time  made  other  shipments  to  the  same  country. 

The  popularity  of  the  Polled  Durham  is  undoubtedly  growing, 
and  good  specimens  of  this  type  are  to-day  essentially  equal  in 
merit  with  other  Shorthorns,  either  as  beef  producers  or  as  dual- 
purpose  cattle. 

The  prepotency  of  the  Polled  Durham  is  well  established,  the 
polled  bulls  used  in  Shorthorn  herds,  as  a  rule,  siring  offspring 
free  from  horns. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

THE   HEREFORD 

The  native  home  of  the  Hereford  breed  of  cattle  is  the  county  of 
Hereford,  located  in  the  upper  part  of  the  lower  third  of  England, 
with  Wales  for  its  western  boundary.  The  county  is  gently  rolling 
in  places,  while  in  other  sections  it  is  quite  hilly,  and  superior 
grazing  generally  prevails.  In  this  county  Herefords  are  exten- 
sively bred,  almost  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  kinds  of  cattle. 

The  origin  of  the  Hereford,  like  that  of  other  English  breeds, 
is  clouded  in  obscurity.  Some  have  regarded  this  breed  as 
descended  from  the  aboriginal  cattle.  This  opinion  has  been 
expressed  by  Youatt  and  by  T.  Duckham,  the  latter  once  promi- 
nent as  editor  of  the  Hereford  Herdbook.  In  1788  William 
Marshall,  a  well-known  English  judge  of  cattle,  gave  it  as  his 
belief  that  the  Hereford  might  be  regarded  as  the  first  breed  on 
the  island.  This  was  written  when  the  Longhorn  and  Devon 
were  popular  and  the  Shorthorn  was  coming  into  favor  rapidly. 
Some  have  accounted  for  Hereford  color  and  type  as  due  to  the 
importation  into  Hereford  by  Lord  Scudamore,  prior  to  167 1, 
of  some  white-faced  cattle  from  Holland  or  Flanders.  Some 
emphasis  has  been  laid  on  the  fact  that  an  ancestor  of  Tully,  a 
Hereford  breeder,  used  a  white-faced  bull  in  his  herd  that  had 
come  from  Yorkshire.  Perhaps  the  wisest  argument  is  the  influ- 
ence of  the  white  cattle  of  Wales  whose  blood  naturally  must 
have  mingled  with  the  darker-colored  animals  of  the  adjoining 
region.  Hereford  color,  however,  has  varied  during  the  history 
of  the  breed.  Marshall  in  1788  wrote  that  the  prevailing  color 
was  red  with  a  bald  face.  In  time  a  wider  range  of  color  crept 
in,  so  that  in  1846,  when  Eyton  published  the  first  herdbook, 
he  grouped  Herefords  into  four  classes,  viz.  mottled-faced,  light 
gray,  dark  gray,  and  red  with  white  face.  Twenty-five  years  later, 
however,  all  of  the  colors  but  the  last  were  practically  extinct. 


202  CATTLE 

Early  Hereford  breeders  date  back  well  into  the  eighteenth 
century.  Among  the  earliest  of  prominence  were  the  Messrs. 
Haywood  of  Clifton-on-Teme,  William  Galliers  of  Wigmore 
Grange  and  his  sons  William  and  John,  Richard  Tomkins  of 
New  House,  King's  Pyon,  and  his  son  "Benjamin  the  Elder," 
and  the  latter's  son  " Benjamin  the  Younger."  Besides  these 
the  Tullys  of  Huntington,  Haywood,  and  Clyro,  and  the  Skyrmes 
of  Stretton  and  Dewsall,  were  prominently  identified  with  early 
Hereford  improvement. 

The  Tomkins  family  has  the  greatest  fame  among  early  Here- 
ford improvers.  Richard  Tomkins,  of  whose  history  little  is 
known,  who  died  in  1723,  left  to  his  son  Benjamin  of  Court 
House,  Canon  Pyon,  some  cattle  above  the  average,  including 
the  cow  Silver  and  her  calf.  This  son,  Benjamin  the  Elder,  was 
born  in  I7i4and  died  in  1789  at  Wellington  Court,  where  he 
had  lived  since  1758.  He  was  a  most  successful  breeder  and 
possessed  a  noted  herd  of  cattle.  A  son  of  his,  also  named  Ben- 
jamin, and  designated  "the  Younger,"  was  born  in  1745  and 
died  in  18 15.  He  farmed  at  Blackhall,  King's  Pyon,  and  later 
at  Wellington  Court  and  Brook  House,  King's  Pyon.  This  latter 
member  of  the  family  was  the  great  improver.  He  bred  closely 
in-and-in,  using  only  bulls  of  his  own  breeding,  one  of  which, 
Silver  Bull  (41),  was  a  famous  sire  and  perhaps  his  best,  being  a 
noted  improver  of  stock.  The  bull  Wellington  (4)  was  also  an 
almost  equally  famous  sire.  Through  Tomkins 's  efforts  Here- 
fords  gradually  matured  earlier,  produced  less  offal,  became 
shorter  of  leg  and  more  refined,  and  better  covered  over  the  back. 
He  also  gave  the  breed  more  character.  His  cattle  presented 
some  range  of  Hereford  color.  In  18 19  his  herd  of  fifty-two 
animals  was  sold  at  auction,  28  head  of  breeding  stock  bring- 
ing over  $20,000,  averaging  nearly  $750  (^149)  each,  the  bull 
Phoenix  (55)  bringing  $2800. 

William  Galliers  of  Wigmore  Grange,  was  born  in  171 3  and 
died  in  1779.  He  was  intimate  with  Benjamin  Tomkins  the  Elder 
and  they  used  much  of  the  same  blood  in  developing  their  herds. 
His  cattle  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  John  Galliers  of  Frog- 
don,  who  was  born  in  1755  and  died  in  1828.  Another  son,  William, 
Jr.,  a  celebrated  breeder,  was  born  in  1744  and  died  in  1832. 


THE  HEREFORD  203 

Early  nineteenth-century  Hereford  breeders  of  note  are  John 
Price,  John  Hewer,  and  Thomas  Jeffries. 

John  Price  of  Ryall  was  born  in  1776  and  died  in  1843.  He 
was  a  close  friend  and  disciple  of  Tomkins  the  Younger,  from 
whom  he  obtained  some  of  his  best  stock.  He  practiced  in-and- 
in  breeding  and  developed  a  famous  herd.  One  of  his  cows,  Toby 
Pigeon  by  Toby  (5),  was  a  remarkable  cow,  dropping  him  19 
calves.  Nearly  his  entire  herd,  sold  in  1841,  descended  from  her. 
This  cow  herself,  when  22  years  old,  brought  $70.    Price  much 


Fig.  81.  Earl  of  Shadeland  22d  27147,  by  Garfield  7015.  The  champion 
Hereford  bull  of  1888,  known  as  "  The  Record  Breaker."  This  bull,  one 
of  the  famous  ones  of  his  day,  is  held  by  Mr.  John  Lewis,  long  the 
successful  manager  of  the  great  Shadeland  herd  at  La  Fayette,  Indiana, 
now  dispersed.    Photograph  by  the  author 

improved  the  breed,  securing  great  scale  and  constitution.  He 
had  auction  sales  in  18 13,  18 16,  and  1841,  realizing  over  $83,000 
total  proceeds. 

John  Hewer  (1 787-1 873)  was  a  son  of  William  Hewer,  also 
in  his  day  a  Hereford  breeder  of  eminence.  He  did  much  to 
improve  the  breed  and  laid  great  emphasis  on  scale  and  quality 
and  uniformity  of  color.  He  had  four  favorite  strains,  Countess, 
Lofty,  Red  Rose,  and  Fanny,  from  which  his  cattle  mainly  de- 
scend. He  let  out  bulls  to  service  for  large  sums,  and  bred  and 
owned  many  of  the  most  eminent  Herefords  of  the  century. 
The  following  bulls  bred  by  him  are  among  the  notable  ones  in 
the  history  of  this  breed  :  Sovereign  (404),  Lottery  (410),  Byron 


204 


CATTLE 


(440).,  Hope  (411),  Chance  (355),  Defiance  (416),  Prince  Dan- 
gerous (362),  Lot  (364),  Lottery  2d  (408),  Young  Favorite 
(413),  Wonder  (420),  Fitzfavorite  (441),  Hamlet  (512),  Original 
1st  (455),  Young  Waxy  (451),  Purslow  (446)  and  Conqueror 
(412).  There  is  scarcely  a  line  of  Hereford  breeding  to-day  that 
is  not  traceable  to  the  Hewer  stock. 

Thomas  Jeffries,  of  The  Grove,  Pembridge,  and  other  estates, 
was  born  in  1796  and  died  in  1843.  He  was  a  son  of  Thomas 
Jeffries,  and  came  from  a  family  of  well-known  Hereford 
breeders.  He  first  began  with  the  Hereford  stock  developed  by 
the  family,  but  later  infused  the  blood  of  cattle  bred  by  John 
Hewer,  hiring  from  him  Sovereign,  Lottery,  Byron,  and  Fitz- 
favorite. This  blending  of  blood  brought  about  remarkable  suc- 
cess, and  Jeffries  produced  numerous  famous  animals.  Cotmore 
(376),  by  Sovereign,  which  he  bred,  has  been  classed  as  one  of 
the  finest  Hereford  bulls  of  history. 

Foundation  Herefords  of  importance  are  the  following :  Silver 
Cow  of  Richard  Tomkins  ;  Pigeon  and  Mottle  of  Benjamin  Tom- 
kins  the  Elder  ;  Welling- 
ton (4),  Silver  Bull  (41), 
Slit  Teat  Cow,  Storrell, 
Old  Rose,  and  Old  Lovely 
of  Benjamin  Tomkins  the 
Younger  ;  Toby  Pigeon, 
by  Toby  (5),  of  John 
Price.  These  were  really 
fundamental  stock  in  the 
early  establishment  of  the 
breed.  Among  other  very 
important  Hereford  males 
that  had  a  great  influence 
on  the  breed  in  England 


Fig.  82.  Dale  66481,  by  Columbus  51875.  One 
of  the  greatest  Hereford  bulls  in  the  history 
of  the  breed,  both  as  sire  and  show  bull. 
Bred  by  Clem  Graves,  Bunker  Hill,  Indiana. 
Photograph  by  the  author 


in  the  last  century  may  be  mentioned  Sovereign  (404),  Old 
Wellington  (507),  Old  Silver  (540),  Waxy  (403),  Cotmore  (376), 
Lottery  (410),  Chance  (348),  Sir  David  (349),  Walford  (871), 
Sir  Benjamin  (1387),  Sir  Thomas  (2228),  Horace  (3877),  Winter 
De  Cote  (4253),  and  Lord  Wilton  (4740).  These  bulls  are  insep- 
arably associated  with  the  development  of  the  breed  in  England. 


THE  HEREFORD  205 

The  introduction  of  the  Hereford  to  America  first  occurred,  so 
far  us  records  show,  in  18 17,  when  Henry  Clay  brought  four 
head  to  his  home  at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  one  bull  dying  in 
transit.  About  1825  Admiral  Coffin  of  the  British  navy  sent  the 
bull  Sir  Isaac  and  a  cow  as  a  gift  to  the  Massachusetts  Society 


Fig.  83.  Fire  King  (22135),  first-prize  and  champion  Hereford  bull  at  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Exhibited  by  King 
Edward.     Photograph  from  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

for  Promoting  Agriculture.  Later  other  importations  followed  in 
a  small  way.  In  1840  W.  H.  Sotham,  a  native  of  Herefordshire, 
England,  who  had  previously  emigrated  to  America,  imported  to 
Albany,  New  York,  in  partnership  with  Erastus  Corning,  Jr., 
twenty-one  cows  and  heifers  and  a  two-year-old  bull.  This 
importation  was  followed  by  others  in  1840,  1843,  i852-i853,and. 
1 86 1 -1 862.  Sotham  worked  hard  to  promote  the  breed,  but  nei- 
ther the  Kentucky,  Massachusetts,  nor  New  York  importations 
awoke  enthusiasm.  Burleigh  and  Bodwell  of  Maine  also  imported 
some  about  1840,  and  in  185 1  John  Humphries  and  Thomas 
Aston  of  Ohio  did  the  same.    In  i860  F.  W.  Stone  of  Guelph, 


206  CATTLE 

Ontario,  Canada,  began  importing,  and  became  a  most  important 
factor  in  promoting  the  breed  in  that  country.  Later,  about  1875, 
T.  L.  Miller  of  Beecher,  Illinois,  became  interested.  He  was  a  man 
of  wealth  and  ability  and  did  much  to  introduce  Herefords  into 
the  West,  and  insist  on  the  public  recognizing  the  merits  of  the 
breed  for  the  range  country.  Miller  exhibited  at  fairs,  and  in  1877 
his  cattle  attracted  the  attention  of  C.  M.  Culbertson  of  Illinois  and 
Adams  Earl,  Moses  Fowler,  and  W.  S.  Van  Natta  of  Indiana,  all 
of  whom  became  noted  breeders  and  importers.  Culbertson,  in 
1879,  imported  thirteen  head,  and  in  1880  over  one  hundred  of  the 
choicest  quality  and  breeding.  Besides  the  above  breeders,  high 
place  in  the  development  of  the  Hereford  in  America  must  be 
accorded  Thomas  Clark,  George  W.  Henry,  George  F.  Morgan, 
and  George  Leigh  of  Illinois  ;  T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  son  of  William 
H.,  Gudgell  &  Simpson,  O.  Harris,  and  J.  A.  Funkhouser  of 
Missouri ;  C.  A.  Stannard  of  Kansas  ;  John  Hooker  of  Ohio ; 
C.  B.  Stuart,  F.  A.  Nave,  and  Clem  Graves,  of  Indiana  ;  W.  H. 
Curtice  and  Giltner  Brothers  of  Kentucky ;  and  H.  C.  Burleigh 
of  Maine,  who  was  the  leading  breeder  in  New  England. 

Hereford  cattle  of  note  in  America  date  back  in  an  important 
sense  only  to  the  time  of  T.  L.  Miller.  From  about  1880  many 
animals  of  much  merit  were  imported.  Among  these  history  ac- 
cords high  place  to  Success  2,  Sir  Richard  2d  970a,  The  Grove 
3d  2490,  Sir  Bartle  Frere  6419,  Garfield  701 5,  Anxiety  2238,  and 
Tregehan  6203.  Among  American-bred  Herefords  the  following 
in  particular  are  of  distinction:  Fowler  12899  by  Tregehan, 
Anxiety  4th  9904  by  Anxiety,  Corrector  48975  by  Harold 
21 141,  Peerless  Wilton  12774  by  Garfield,  Dale  66481  by 
Columbus  51875,  Earl  of  Shadeland  2 2d  27147,  and  Earl  of 
Shadeland  41st  33478,  both  by  Garfield,  and  Beau  Donald  58996. 
Dale  and  Earl  of  Shadeland  2 2d  were  without  doubt  two  of  the 
finest  show  specimens  of  the  breed  ever  produced  in  this  country, 
and  each  gave  eminently  satisfactory  service  in  the  herd. 

Hereford  characteristics.  This  breed  has  undergone  more  of  an 
evolution  and  made  more  improvement  than  any  other  beef  breed 
in  America,  unless  it  be  the  Galloway.  In  1788  Marshall  gave 
the  following  description  of  the  breed,  which  sixty  years  later 
Youatt  stated  was  tolerably  correct. 


THE  HEREFORD  207 

The  countenance  pleasant,  cheerful,  open  ;  the  forehead  broad  ;  eye  full 
and  lively  ;  horns  bright,  taper,  and  spreading  ;  head  small  ;  chap  lean ; 
neck  long  and  tapering  ;  chest  deep  ;  bosom  broad  and  projecting  forward  ; 
shoulder  bone  thin,  flat,  no  way  protuberant  in  bone  (?),  but  full  and  mellow 
in  flesh  ;  chest  full  ;  loin  broad  ;  hips  standing  wide  and  level  with  the 
chine  ;  quarters  long  and  wide  at  the  neck  ;  rump  even  with  the  level  of  the 
back  and  not  drooping  nor  standing  high  and  sharp  above  the  quarters  ;  tail 
slender  and  neatly  haired  ;  barrel  round  and  roomy  ;  the  carcass  throughout 
deep  and  well  spread  ;  ribs  broad,  standing  flat  and  close  on  the  outer  sur- 
face, forming  a  small  even  barrel,  the  hindmost  large  and  full  of  length; 
round  bone  small,  snug,  and  not  prominent  ;  thigh  clean  and  regularly  taper- 
ing ;  legs  upright  and  short  ;   bone  below  the  knee  and  hock  small ;  feet 


Sp 

^sz^^~*-  *%.  Wj 

1      -V- 

Fig.  84.  Shadeland  Cora  36693,  by  Earl  of  Shadeland  22d  27147.  Avery 
high-class  Hereford  cow  in  field  condition  in  pasture  at  Shadeland 
Stock  Farm,  La  Fayette,  Indiana.    Photograph  by  the  author 

of  middle  size  ;  flank  large  ;  flesh  everywhere  mellow,  soft,  and  yielding 
pleasantly  to  the  touch,  especially  on  the  chine,  the  shoulder,  and  the  ribs  ; 
hide  mellow,  supple,  of  a  middle  thickness,  and  loose  on  the  neck  and  huckle  ; 
coat  neatly  haired,  bright,  and  silky  ;  color  a  middle  red  with  a  bald  face, 
characteristic  of  the  true  Herefordshire  breed. 

While  this  description  has  an  important  application  to  the 
Hereford  of  to-day,  in  certain  respects  the  breed  has  been 
materially  improved  over  what  it  was  twenty-five  years  ago.  Two 
features  which  have  subjected  the  breed  to  much  criticism  have 
been  excess  of  throatiness  and  dewlap,  and  lack  of  development 
of  rump  and  hind  quarter.    The  rump  has  lacked  in  levelness  and 


208  CATTLE 

fullness,  while  the  thighs  have  been  thin  and  pared  off,  being 
deficient  in  thickness  and  depth.  These  deficiencies,  however, 
have  been  materially  bred  out  in  many  herds,  so  that  the 
criticisms  do  not  have  the  weight  they  formerly  did.  The  color 
markings  have  also  become  more  uniform,  and  the  white  face, 
breast,  top  of  neck,  and  legs  from  knee  and  hock  down,  and  per- 
haps belly,  with  the  balance  of  body  red,  are  characteristics  to- 
day that  are  well  established.  The  shade  of  red  varies,  but  that 
of  a  medium  hue  is  most  prevalent.  The  shoulder  is  most  beauti- 
fully laid  and  covered  with  flesh,  this  being  a  Hereford  character- 
istic scarcely  equaled  by  any  other  breed.  The  spring  and  depth 
of  rib  and  consequent  expansion  of  body  is  striking,  and  a  wide, 
long  loin  and  thickness  and  depth  of  chest  clearly  account  for 
the  vigor  and  constitution  so  universally  acknowledged  for  this 
breed.  The  head  of  the  bull  is  different  in  type  from  that  of 
other  breeds,  being  rather  short  and  broad  both  in  forehead  and 
muzzle,  and  often  slightly  dished  of  face,  crowned  with  white  or 
waxy  yellow  horns  which  spring  forward  and  down  with  graceful 
curve.  The  neck  is  usually  very  smoothly  blended  into  the 
shoulder,  furnishing  a  most  attractive  front.  In  fact,  even  to-day 
the  fore  part  of  the  Hereford  usually  delights  the  critics,  while 
the  hind  part  often  meets  with  unfavorable  comment.  In  meat 
production  high  rank  is  accorded,  with  a  general  distribution  of 
thick  well-marbled  flesh  over  the  body  and  especially  the  back. 
The  coat  of  hair  in  winter  is  usually  thicker  and  more  curly  than 
that  of  any  breed  excepting  the  Galloway  and  West  Highland, 
furnishing  an  abundant  protection.  In  constitutional  vigor  Here- 
fords  are  of  the  first  rank.  As  milk  producers  the  cows  average 
below  medium  and  are  specially  open  to  criticism  in  this  particu- 
lar. No  class  of  breeders  carry  so  many  nurse  cows  on  the  show 
circuit  as  do  the  Hereford  men.  In  size  this  is  one  of  the  largest 
breeds,  the  males  often  weighing  2200  and  the  females  1500  or 
more.  From  very  early  times  great  scale  was  sought,  and  it  is 
said  that  in  18 15  the  bull  Wellington  weighed  2912  pounds  and 
in  1820  the  cow  Silk  2000  pounds.  The  Hewers  emphasized 
size  and  quality,  and  their  bull  The  General  (125  1)  is  reported  to 
have  weighed  3640  pounds  when  six  years  old.  It  may  also  be 
said  that  Herefords  weigh  heavy  for  their  size.    In  quality  the 


THE  HEREFORD  209 

breed  is  usually  distinctly  superior,  showing  fine  hair,  a  mellow, 
elastic  skin  of  medium  thickness,  and  fine  bone.  In  temper- 
ament Herefords  are  less  docile  than  Shorthorns  under  similar 
conditions,  and  do  not  so  readily  accustom  themselves  to  the 
confinement  of  limited  quarters  where  grazing  is  not  abundant. 

The  Herefords  as  meat  producers  have  always  ranked  high.  For 
many  years  their  meat  held  the  highest  place  at  the  Smithfield 
market  in  London.  At  the  first  fifty-two  annual  meetings  of  the 
Smithfield  Club,  with  various  breeds  in  competition,  185  prizes 


Fig.  85.  Lorna  Doone  94479,  by  Christopher  69072.  Grand  champion  Here- 
ford cow  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904,  and  at  various  other 
leading  exhibitions,  and  noted  as  a  great  specimen  of  the  breed.  Bred  and 
owned  by  W.  S.  Van  Natta  &  Son.    Photograph  by  the  author 

went  to  Hereford  steers  or  oxen  and  only  190  to  all  other  breeds  or 
crosses  combined.  In  recent  years  the  Hereford  has  not  been  so 
uniformly  successful,  owing  to  the  influence  of  Aberdeen  Angus 
and  Shorthorn,  but  even  to-day  it  may  be  classed  in  the  first  rank. 
At  the  1905  International  Live  Stock  Exposition  at  Chicago  a 
car  load  of  grade  Hereford  steers  exhibited  by  D.  W.  Black  of 
Ohio,  champions  in  their  class,  dressed  out  65.1  per  cent,  the 
record  of  yearling  steers.  In  early  maturity  no  breed  excels  the 
Hereford,  and  for  producing  "baby  beef  "  it  is  of  the  best. 


2io  CATTLE 

Hereford  steers  in  American  fat  stock  shows  have  done  exceed- 
ingly well.  At  the  Chicago  Fat  Stock  Show  the  following  Here- 
ford grand  championships  were  awarded  between  1878  and  1892  : 
in  1883  Roan  Boy,  a  grade  sired  by  a  Hereford  bull  out  of  a 
Shorthorn  cow;  1885,  the  grade  Regulus  ;  1886,  Rudolph  J., 
a  pure-bred;  1891,  Hickory  Nut,  a  pure-bred.  At  the  Inter- 
national Live  Stock  Exposition  but  one  grand  championship  has 
been  secured  by  a  pure-bred  Hereford,  this  by  The  Woods 
Principal  in  1902.  In  1903  the  grand  champion  was  Challenger, 
a  grade  sired  by  a  Hereford  and  shown  by  Nebraska  University. 
In  the  pure-bred  and  grade  classes  large  shows  of  Herefords  are 
made  each  year  at  the  Kansas  City  Fat  Stock  Show  and  at  the 
International.  In  car-load  exhibits  Mr.  D.  W.  Black  of  Ohio 
has  attained  a  national  reputation  for  showing  high-grade  Here- 
fords, winning  the  grand  championship  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
Exposition  Show  in  1904  and  at  the  International  Live  Stock 
Exposition  on  two  occasions.  In  1903  W.  J.  Herrin  of  Illinois 
won  the  grand  championship  on  car-load  lot  at  the  International. 
It  may  be  said  that,  in  the  killing,  Herefords  dress  out  a  high 
percentage  of  carcass  compared  with  other  breeds. 

The  geographical  distribution  of  the  Hereford  is  very  wide. 
In  Great  Britain  it  is  chiefly  bred  in  Herefordshire  and  vicinity, 
though  herds  are  kept  with  success  in  Scotland,  Ireland,  and 
Wales.  The  Hereford,  however,  is  best  adapted  to  a  grazing 
region  of  a  fair  degree  of  level  surface,  and  its  introduction 
to  the  plains  of  Australia,  New  Zealand,  Argentine  Republic, 
Canada,  and  the  United  States  has  met  with  very  great  success. 
No  breed  equals  the  Hereford  for  withstanding  the  vicissitudes 
of  the  great  ranges,  where  winter's  cold  and  scarcity  of  feed 
frequently  obtain.  The  thick  coat  of  hair,  the  robust  constitu- 
tion, and  easy  keeping  quality  of  the  breed  make  it  unusually 
suited  to  such  conditions.  Hereford  bulls  have  accomplished 
remarkably  fine  results  on  the  native  cattle  on  the  western  range 
in  the  United  States,  and  many  herds,  particularly  in  the  South- 
west, are  graded  up  to  very  superior  character.  For  the  restricted 
surroundings  of  the  eastern  farm,  where  grazing  is  not  so  abun- 
dant, the  Hereford  is  not  so  well  suited.  Yet  in  New  England, 
and  especially  in  Maine,  Herefords  have  long  been  popular.     The 


THE  HEREFORD 


21 1 


oxen  of  this  breed  have  for  many  years  met  with  favor  in  the 
hills  of  New  England.  In  the  United  States,  however,  the  Here- 
ford is  chiefly  found  west  of  the  Mississippi,  though  herds  are 
found  in  all  the  northern  states. 

Prices  for  Herefords  have  never  passed  through  such  extreme 
variations  as  have  the  Shorthorns,  though  some  very  high  ones 
have  been  paid.  Lord  Wilton  (4740)  was  sold  at  auction  in  1884 


Fig.  86.  Black's  Ohio  Champion.  A  grade  yearling  Hereford  range  steer,  held 
by  the  noted  feeder,  D.  W.  Black,  Lyndon,  Ohio.  Bred  by  Swenson  Bros, 
of  Texas.  One  of  the  grand  champion  car  lot  of  feeder  calves  at  the  1904 
show  of  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition.  Also  one  of  the  first- 
prize  car  lot  of  yearlings  fed  by  Mr.  Black  for  the  1905  show.  Purchased 
by  the  Ohio  State  University.    Photograph  by  the  author 

for  $19,000,  but  the  buyer  could  not  cash  his  bid,  so  the  bull  was 
later  sold  to  William  Tudge  and  Thomas  Fenn  for  $5000.  The 
highest  price  paid  for  a  Hereford  in  America  was  for  Crusader 
86596,  at  the  sale  of  Clem  Graves  of  Indiana,  on  September  16, 
1902,  which  brought  $10,000,  and  the  cow  Dolly  2d  61799 
which  brought  $7000,  both  being  purchased  by  Edward  Haw- 
kins of  Indiana.  The  bull  Perfection  92891,  by  Dale,  on  Jan- 
uary 7,    1902,  was  purchased  at  the  sale  of  Thomas  Clark  in 


212 


CATTLE 


Chicago  by  G.  H.  Hoxie  of  Illinois  for  $9000.  Among  some  of 
the  other  high-priced  Herefords  may  be  mentioned  the  imported 
bulls  The  Grove  3d  2490,  purchased  by  Adams  Earl  for  $7000  ; 
Sir  Bartle  Frere  6419,  by  the  same,  for  $3500;  and  Protector, 
by  F.  A.  Nave,  for  $6000.  A  summary  of  sales  of  5647  head 
as  sold  at  auction  from  1891  to  1900  inclusive,  published  by  the 
Kansas  Board  of  Agriculture,  shows  an  average  price  of  $236.92. 
The  organization  of  Hereford  cattle  interests  is  well  established 
in  England  and  the  United  States.  The  Hereford  Herdbook 
was  first  published  in  1846  by  T.  C.  Eyton,  and  in  1884  the 
Hereford  Cattle  Breeders'  Association  of  England  was  organized, 
and  took  over  the  publication  of  the  herdbook,  of  which  about 
thirty  volumes  have  been  published.  T.  L.  Miller  of  Illinois  pub- 
lished in  1 88 1  the  first  American  Hereford  Herdbook,  and  the 
same  year  the  American  Hereford  Breeders'  Association  was 
organized.  Up  to  January  1,  1906,  there  had  been  published 
twenty-seven  volumes,  showing  a  registration  of  205,000  animals. 


Fig.  87.    A  pasture  view  in  Herefordshire.    Photograph  by  the  auth< 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

THE  ABERDEEN   ANGUS 

The  native  home  of  the  Aberdeen  Angus  breed  of  cattle  is  in 
northeastern  Scotland,  especially  in  the  counties  of  Aberdeen, 
Kincardine,  and  Forfar.  In  southern  Aberdeen,  in  the  Buchan 
district,  the  breed  was  long  known  as  "  Buchan  humlies,"  while 
in  the  section  of  Forfar  known  as  Angus  these  cattle  were  called 
"  Angus  Doddies."  The  words  "humle  "  and  "  dodded  "  are  the 
Scotch  terms  for  polled  or  hornless.  This  section  of  Scotland  is 
north  of  560  and  lies  about  a  thousand  miles  north  of  the  latitude 
of  Chicago.  The  climate  is  rather  damp  and  cold  much  of  the 
time.  The  land  is  hilly  or  mountainous  in  the  main,  much  of  it 
being  better  suited  to  grazing  than  anything  else,  though  roots, 
oats,  and  hay  are  quite  extensively  produced. 

The  origin  of  the  Aberdeen  Angus  is  purely  speculative. 
Among  the  wild  white  cattle  of  Britain  were  polled  animals,  and 
the  Aberdeen  Angus  may  have  descended  from  these.  Some  of 
the  Scotch  writers  incline  to  the  belief  that  this  breed  is  a  sport 
from  a  black  breed  with  horns,  which  formerly  existed  in  Scot- 
land. Hornless  cattle  have  been  known  in  Scotland  for  long  over 
a  century.  In  an  account  book  kept  by  a  Mr.  Graham  record 
is  made  June  9,  1752,  of  purchasing  a  two-year-old  heifer  "doded." 
The  first  printed  reference  to  hornless  cattle  in  Angus  is  dated 
1797  in  the  Old  Statistical  Account  of  the  parish  of  Bendochy, 
where  it  is  said  of  1229  cattle  in  the  parish  "many  of  them  are 
dodded,  wanting  horns."  Youatt,  about  1835,  wrote  "that  there 
have  always  been  polled  cattle  in  Angus,"  and  states  that  attention 
was  first  directed  to  them  by  enterprising  farmers  about  1775. 
Mr.  William  Forbes  of  Aberdeenshire,  writing  Macdonald  and 
Sinclair  over  thirty  years  ago,  mentions  two  sorts  of  polled  cattle 
common  in  Buchan  about  the  beginning  of  the  last  century.  One 
of  these  was  a  rather  small,  puny  type,  thin-fleshed,  such  as  the 

2I3 


214  CATTLE 

crofters  (small  farm  renters)  kept ;  the  other  a  larger  kind,  some 
black,  some  brindled,  which  more  readily  submitted  to  Shorthorn 
blood  than  did  the  former,  and  lacked  its  power  of  reproduction 
of  polled  character. 

The  earliest  improvers  of  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle  include  the 
Watson  family,  William  McCombie,  Lord  Panmure,  Lord  South- 
esk,  William  Fullerton,  Mr.  Bowie  at  Mains  of  Kelly,  Sir  George 
Macpherson  Grant,  and  Mr.  Robert  Walker.  Numerous  other 
breeders  materially  assisted  in  the  improvement  during  the  first 
third  of  the  nineteenth  century,  though  none  of  these  accom- 
plished as  much  as  the  first  two  named. 

Hugh  Watson  of  Keillor,  Meigle,  Forfar,  was  the  first  really 
great  Aberdeen  Angus  improver,  the  Colling  of  this  breed.  He 
was  born  in  1789,  became  a  tenant  at  Keillor  in  1808,  and 
remained  there  56  years,  dying  in  1865.  His  father  and  grand- 
father were  lovers  of  good  cattle,  and  when  Hugh  went  to  Keil- 
lor he  took  six  cows  and  a  bull,  all  black,  with  him.  He  also 
bought  the  same  year  at  Brechin  ten  of  the  best  heifers  of  various 
colors  that  he  could  find,  and  a  black  bull  named  Tarnty  Jock. 
Most  writers  assume  that  Watson  began  his  work  of  improvement 
on  settling  at  Keillor,  but  his  daughter  states  that  this  did  not 
begin  until  about  18 15  or  18 16,  his  ambition  being  aroused  by 
a  visit  to  the  English  Shorthorn  country.  Watson  in-and-in  bred 
and  produced  a  more  early-maturing,  heavier-fleshed,  blockier  type 
that  dressed  out  better  than  ever  before.  He  also  emphasized 
family  lines  and  bred  each  family  rather  within  itself.  His  bull 
Old  Jock  (1),  calved  in  1842,  a  great-grandson  of  Tarnty  Jock, 
was  his  most  valuable  sire,  possessing  remarkable  quality  and 
constitution,  and  was  a  famous  show  animal.  Watson's  most 
famous  cow,  Old  Grannie  (1),  was  one  of  the  wonders  of  the 
bovine  race.  She  lived  to  be  36  years  old  and  had  25  calves,  the 
last,  a  bull  of  merit,  Hugh  (130),  being  dropped  in  her  twenty- 
ninth  year.  Watson  won  hundreds  of  prizes  at  the  shows  and 
did  much  to  improve  and  popularize  the  breed. 

William  McCombie  was  born  at  Tilly  four,  Aberdeen,  in  1805 
and  died  in  1880,  a  few  months  before  the  dispersal  of  his  herd. 
In  1830  he  began  a  polled  herd  and  purchased  from  the  best 
breeders  of  his  county.    He  was  a  great  believer  in  the  importance 


THE  ABERDEEN  ANGUS  215 

of  individual  merit  coupled  with  superior  pedigree,  and  em- 
phasized the  value  of  the  sire.  At  William  Fullerton's  sale  he 
bought  Queen  Mother  (348)  from  which  he  developed  the  famous 
Queen  tribe.  McCombie  bred  Pride  of  Aberdeen  (581),  the 
founder  of  the  Pride  family  and  one  of  the  most  famous  show 
cows  of  the  breed.  McCombie  improved  on  the  work  of  Watson 
and  became  his  worthy  successor.  His  success  in  the  show  ring 
was  marvelous.     He  not  only  exhibited  at  the  leading  Scotch 


Fig.  88.  Lucy's  Prince  46183,  by  Ringmaster.  Grand  champion  Aberdeen 
Angus  bull  at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition  in  1903  and  1904. 
A  well-known  prize  winner  at  leading  shows  elsewhere.  Owned  by  D. 
Bradfute  &  Son,  Xenia,  Ohio.    Photograph  by  the  author 

shows  but  also  in  France  on  four  different  occasions,  always 
with  eminent  success.  In  1878  his  herd  at  the  Paris  Interna- 
tional Exposition  won  the  grand  championship  against  all  breeds 
and  attracted  international  attention.  Many  regard  McCombie 
as  the  most  distinguished  improver  and  promoter  of  the  breed. 

Sir  George  Macpherson  Grant  of  Ballindalloch  is  considered  the 
most  important  of  modern  Aberdeen  Angus  breeders.  Cattle  of 
this  kind  had  been  bred  on  his  estate  for  very  many  years  and  were 
long  of  high  repute,  but  since  the  dispersal  of  the  McCombie 
herd  in   1880,  the  Ballindalloch  herd  has  been  regarded  as  the 


216  CATTLE 

premier  one  of  Scotland.  Here  some  of  the  best  bulls  of  the 
breed  produced  in  the  past  twenty-five  years  have  been  bred, 
including  Juryman  (421),  Ermine  Bearer  1749,  King  of  Trumps 
2690,  Bushranger  (732),  Justice  854,  Judge  473,  Prince  Ito 
(50006),  Bion  36986,  Emulus  20417,  Eblito  50098,  and  Eques- 
trian 34216.  The  cows  Erica  184,  Jilt  422,  and  Coquette  2538 
are  among  the  famous  founders  of  families  at  Ballindalloch. 

William  Fullerton  founded  a  herd  at  Ardovie  in  1834  and 
added  much  to  the  prestige  of  the  breed  through  the  use  of  the 
bull  Panmure  (51),  bought  at  Lord  Panmure's  sale  in  1841. 
Fullerton  bred  Queen  Mother  by  Panmure,  the  cow  McCombie 
later  purchased,  the  founder  of  the  Queen  tribe. 

The  Aberdeen  Angus  tribes  in  special  favor  to-day  are  the  fol- 
lowing:  Queen  descended  from  Queen  Mother  (41),  Erica  from 
Erica  184,  Pride  from  Pride  of  Aberdeen  38,  Blackbird  from 
Lady  Ida  686,  Heather  Bloom  from  Heather  Blossom  306,  Nose- 
gay from  Nosegay  2251,  and  Coquette  from  Coquette  2538.  Of 
these  the  Blackbird  at  present  is  in  most  favor.  There  are  numer- 
ous other  families  of  merit  in  addition  to  the  above,  but  these 
are  most  popular. 

The  introduction  of  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle  to  America  was  com- 
paratively recent.  In  1873  George  Grant  of  Victoria,  Kansas, 
brought  the  first  to  America,  the  importation  being  three  bulls, 
two  of  which  were  shown  at  the  Kansas  State  Fair.  These  bulls 
were  imported  to  use  on  western  range  cows.  In  1876  the 
Ontario  Agricultural  College  at  Guelph  brought  to  Canada  two 
bulls  and  a  cow.  In  1878  Anderson  &  Findlay  of  Lake  Forest, 
Illinois,  imported  five  cows  and  a  bull,  this  being  the  first  firm 
to  exhibit  prominently  in  the  Central  West.  In  1879  F.  B.  Red- 
field  of  Batavia,  New  York,  and  in  1880  George  Whitfield  of 
Rougemont,  Quebec,  made  importations.  In  1881  and  1882  a 
number  of  importations  were  made,  including  a  very  superior  lot 
by  Gudgell  &  Simpson  of  Missouri.  In  1882  Mr.  T.  W.  Harvey 
established  at  Turlington,  Nebraska,  in  charge  of  William  Watson, 
a  son  of  the  famous  Hugh,  a  herd  of  Aberdeen  Angus  that  for 
ten  years,  until  its  dispersion,  was  a  wonderful  factor  in  advertis- 
ing the  breed,  containing  as  it  did  some  of  the  most  noted  cattle 
of  the  time.    Others  who  have  been  most  important  contributors  to 


THE  ABERDEEN   ANGUS  217 

the  success  of  the  breed  in  the  United  States  are  J.  S.  Goodwin, 
L.  McWhorter,  Evans  &  Son,  Palmer  &  Palmer,  J.  J.  Rodgers, 
and  B.  R.  Pierce  &  Son  of  Illinois ;  Leslie  &  Burwell  of  Wisconsin ; 
W.  A.  McHenry  and  A.  C.  Binnie  of  Iowa ;  M.  A.  Judy  of  Indiana ; 
Wallace  Estill  and  Hugh  Elliott  of  Missouri;  J.  J.  Hill  of  Min- 
nesota ;  D.  Bradfute  &  Son  and  J.  S.  Hine  of  Ohio,  and  Dr.  Craik, 
Mossom  Boyd  &  Co.,  and  M.  H.  Cochrane  of  Canada. 

Characteristics  of  the  Aberdeen  Angus.  In  general  conforma- 
tion this  breed  differs  somewhat  from  the  Shorthorn  and  Here- 
ford, the  head  being  polled  and  the  body  more  cylindrical  in 


Fig.  89.  Juba  of  Morlich  62233  (imp.),  by  Rover  of  Craibstone  55014.  A  promi- 
nent Aberdeen  Angus  prize-winning  bull.  Sold  in  1904  by  C.  H.  Gardner  of 
Illinois,  in  public  sale  for  $1200.    Photograph  by  the  author 

form,  while  compactness  is  a  strong  feature.  The  head  tapers  at 
the  poll  and  is  somewhat  prominent  in  the  forehead,  while  the 
distance  between  the  prominent  eyes  is  considerable  and  the 
length  of  nose  only  medium.  The  head  as  a  whole  impresses  one 
as  belonging  to  a  good  feeder  type,  showing  a  strong,  full  muzzle 
and  nostril.  The  neck  is  usually  smoothly  attached  to  head  and 
shoulder,  showing  excellent  finish,  but  the  shoulder  sometimes 
tends  to  be  a  bit  prominent  instead  of  nicely  laid.  The  typical 
body  has  a  rounded  rather  than   square   turn  of  rib,  thus  not 


2l8  CATTLE 

showing  the  broad  flat  loin  so  common  with  Shorthorn  or  Here- 
ford though  heavily  and  thickly  fleshed.  The  ribs  show  consider- 
able depth,  and  are  usually  very  smoothly  fleshed  over.  The  back 
tends  to  dip  some  at  the  withers,  though  with  the  best  speci- 
mens  this  is  not  so.     The  body  has    a  great    relative    depth, 


Fig.  90.  Lady  of  Meadowbrook  21466,  by  Zaire  5th  13067.  A  noted  Aberdeen 
Angus  show  cow,  winning  the  highest  awards  in  1898,  1899,  and  1900  at 
the  leading  fairs.  Owned  by  D.  Bradfute  &  Son,  Xenia,  Ohio.  Photograph 
from  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

with  a  corresponding  shortness  of  leg.  The  hips  of  the  Aberdeen 
Angus  are  usually  nicely  covered  and  well  laid  in.  The  rump 
frequently  slopes  considerably  to  each  side  of  the  tail  head,  which 
may  set  level  or  be  a  bit  high,  but  is  usually  long  and  heavily 
fleshed.  The  thigh  and  twist  carry  as  great  a  relative  proportion 
of  meat  to  bone  as  any  breed  of  beef  cattle,  though  it  often  lacks 
the  squareness  of  the  Shorthorn  at  the  back  thigh,  being  rounder 
in  outline  and  very  deep  in  the  twist.  The  leg  is  usually  rather 
short  and  fine  in  quality  of  bone  and  joint.  The  almost  universal 
color  is  black,  though  red  occurs  at  rare  intervals.  Originally 
brindles,  browns,  striped,  and  reds  were  common,  but  these  colors 
are  in  great  disfavor  and  all  but  black  are  practically  of  interest 
only  historically.  According  to  the  by-laws  of  the  American 
Aberdeen  Angus  Association,   "  Males  red  in  color,  or  with  a 


THE  ABERDEEN  ANGUS 


219 


noticeable  amount  of  pure  white  above  the  underline,  or  on  leg*  or 
legs,  or  with  scurs,  shall  not  be  eligible  to  entry  for  breeding 
purposes."  A  black  cod  is  preferred  in  the  bull,  but  white  udders 
with  cows,  with  some  white  between  navel  and  udder  on  females, 
are  not  objectionable.  Red  cows  may  be  registered,  however, 
and  also  black  ones  with  small  white  spots  on  head,  body,  or  legs. 
In  quality  this  breed  is  of  the  first  rank,  as  shown  by  the 
mellow,  elastic,  medium  thick  skin,  the  fine  coat  of  hair,  and 
moderate  joints  and  small  bone.  Compared  with  the  Galloway, 
the  Aberdeen  Angus  has  a  smoother,  shorter  coat  of  hair,  and 
generally  a  shorter,  blockier  type  of  body,  with  more  spring  and 
depth  of  rib.    The  temperament  in  general  is  somewhat  more 


!■' 

■  *       ■  i 

^Y 

i    *    j 

''  ;■  ■ 

Fig.  91.  Blackbird  26th  54457,  by  Black  Monarch  of  Emerson  30331.  Grand 
champion  Aberdeen  Angus  female  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition, 
1904.    Owned  by  W.  J.  Martin,  Churdon,  Iowa.    Photograph  by  the  author 


nervous  than  that  of  the  Shorthorn.  In  weight  this  breed  ranks 
high,  and  is  most  deceptive  in  this  respect,  bulls  easily  attaining 
2200  pounds  and  cows  1400.  Some  very  large  specimens  of  the 
breed  are  recorded,  the  famous  bull  Judge  weighing  as  much  as 
2800  pounds  and  his  brother  Justice  in  full  flesh  exceeding  3000 


220 


CATTLE 


pounds.  Probably  no  breed  weighs  heavier  for  its  size  than  this, 
though  as  a  whole  it  may  perhaps  be  ranked  second  in  weight  to 
Shorthorn  and  Hereford.  The  quality  of  its  flesh  is  unsurpassed, 
the  grain  of  the  meat  being  fine,  dressing  out  a  large  per  cent 
of  carcass,  often  up  to  65  per  cent. 

The  Aberdeen  Angus  in  crossing  or  grading  ranks  as  unsur- 
passed. Bulls  of  this  breed  on  common  cows  produce  superior 
market  cattle.  In  Scotland  a  favorite  cross  is  using  white  Short- 
horn bulls  on  black  polled  cattle,  thus  producing  blue-gray  cattle 


Fig.  92.  Vala  37888,  by  Emulus  of  Keillor  Park  262S0.  The  leading  first- 
prize  and  champion  Aberdeen  Angus  cow  of  1902  and  1903.  Sold  by 
C.  H.  Gardner  of  Illinois,  at  auction  in  1904,  for  $750.  Photograph  from 
the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

that  meet  the  most  discriminating  market  requirement.  On  the 
western  range  the  Aberdeen  Angus  has  not  secured  so  strong  a 
foothold  as  the  Hereford,  but  his  grade  progeny  is  thick  fleshed, 
short  of  leg,  fast  maturing,  a  good  feeder,  and  kills  the  equal  of 
anything  in  the  market.  It  will  be  fortunate  for  our  beef-cattle 
interests  when  more  Aberdeen  Angus  males  are  used  to  grade 
up  common  herds. 

The  Aberdeen  Angus  as  a  dairy  cow  ranks  very  fair,  though  not 
high.    Many  excellent  milkers  exist  among  them,  but  the  breed 


THE  ABERDEEN  ANGUS  22  1 

is  not  the  equal  of  the  Shorthorn  in  this  respect.    The  higher 
class  beef  type  tends  away  from  dairy  production  in  any  breed. 

The  Aberdeen  Angus  steer  in  the  show  ring  has  made  a  remark- 
able record,  for  almost  since  the  day  of  Hugh  Watson  this  breed 
has  been  at  the  front  as  a  meat  producer.  In  1829  Watson 
showed  a  pair  of  oxen  that  attracted  much  notice,  one  of  which 
was  slaughtered  and  its  carcass  said  to  be  of  rare  quality. 
McCombie  showed  a  steer,  Black  Prince,  which  at  four  years 
of  age,  in   1867,  won  the  highest   honors  at   Birmingham  and 


Fig.  93.  Clear  Lake  Jute  2d.  A  pure-bred  Aberdeen  Angus  steer.  Grand 
champion  at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition,  Chicago,  1904. 
Fed  and  shown  by  the  University  of  Minnesota  School  of  Agriculture. 
Photograph  from  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

Smithfiekl.  This  steer  was  sent  to  Windsor  for  inspection  by 
Queen  Victoria,  at  her  request,  so  great  was  his  fame,  and  later  he 
sold  for  $600  for  slaughter.  For  years  either  pure-bred  or  grade 
Aberdeen  Angus  steers  have  held  the  highest  places  of  honor  at 
the  leading  English  fat  stock  shows,  at  the  Chicago  and  Kansas 
City  fat  stock  shows,  and  at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposi- 
tion. The  following  are  some  of  the  more  important  prizes  won 
by  Aberdeen  Angus  pure-bred  or  grade  steers  in  American  show 
rings.  The  first  pure  steer  of  the  breed  shown  was  Black  Prince, 
imported  by  Geary  Brothers  of  Canada  in  1883,  and  exhibited 


222 


CATTLE 


that  year  at  the  Kansas  City  and  American  fat  stock  shows, 
weighing  2300  pounds  as  a  three-year-old.  He  was  not  made 
grand  champion,  but  at  Chicago  was  awarded  sweepstakes  as  the 
best  three-year-old  beast  passed  on  by  butchers.  In  1885  the 
steer  Sandy,  shown  by  Gudgell  &  Simpson,  won  the  yearling 
championship  of  the  Kansas  City  and  Chicago  shows,  and  also  the 
medal  offered  by  the  Polled  Cattle  Society  of  Scotland.  In  1886 
Sandy  was  champion  steer  of  the  Kansas  City  show,  winning 
numerous  prizes  for  being  the  best  steer  shown.  At  939  days 
he  weighed  1885  pounds.  In  1887,  at  the  same  show,  Black 
Prince  of  Turlington,  a  famous  bullock  exhibited  by  T.  W.  Har- 
vey, won  the  sweepstakes  over  the  steer  Dot  shown  by  Messrs. 
Estill  of  Missouri,  though  the  next  year  at  the  American  Fat 
Stock  Show  at  Chicago  Dot  was  grand  champion  over  all  breeds. 
For  some  years  on,  the  exhibit  of  Angus  steers  did  not  attract 
much  attention,  the  cattle  market  being  very  quiet. 

The  Aberdeen  Angus  steer  at  the  International  Live  Stock 
Exposition  secured  premier  place  from  the  first.  The  first  Inter- 
national was  held  in  1900,  and  since  then  the  steer  show  there 
has  been  large  and  the  competition  keen.  The  show  in  classes 
has  been  notable,  but  the  breed  record  in  grand  championship  has 
been  equally  so,  it  being  as  follows  : 


Name  of  Steer 

Owner 

Year 

Champion 

Price  Sold 
Per  Pound 

Advance  (pure-bred)    .     . 
Shamrock  (grade)    .     .     . 
Clear  Lake  Jute  2d  (pure- 
bred)  

Black  Rock  (grade)      .     . 

B.  R.  Pierce,  Illinois    .     .     . 
Iowa  Agricultural  College    . 
Minnesota    Agricultural 

College 

Iowa  Agricultural  College     . 

1900 
1902 

1904 
I905 

#1.50 
.56 

•36 
•25 

No  other  breed  has  made  so  fine  a  record  in  winning  this  high 
honor.  In  car-load  lots  the  Aberdeen  Angus  also  won  champion- 
ship at  Chicago  as  follows  :  1900,  by  L.  H.  Kerrick  of  Illinois  ; 
1902,  Charles  Escher,  Iowa;  1904,  Claus  Krambeck  of  Iowa; 
1905,  Claus  Krambeck. 

The  prices  brought  by  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle  have  not  ranged 
as  high  as  those  brought  by  Shorthorn  or  Hereford,  but  have  made 


THE  ABERDEEN  ANGUS  223 

a  very  good  showing.  Figures  compiled  by  the  Kansas  Board  of 
Agriculture  of  sales  from  1892  to  1901  inclusive,  including  3269 
head,  give  an  average  price  realized  per  head  of  $2 1 3.24,  the  bulls 
averaging  $190.09  and  the  cows  $232.07.  The  highest  prices  of 
interest  areas  follows  :  Prince  Ito  50006,  by  Eltham  (9120),  sold 
by  M.  A.  Judy,  February  4,  1902,  at  Chicago  to  B.  R.  Pierce  & 
Son  for  $9100,  the  record  price  to  date  for  a  bull  of  the  breed. 
The  female,  Blackcap  Judy  40226,  by  Black  Monarch  of  Emer- 
son 30331,  at  the  same  sale,  offered  by  Mr.  Judy,  brought  $6300 
from  C.  H.  Gardner  of  Illinois,  the  record  price  for  a  cow  of  the 
breed.  Other  animals  that  have  brought  high  prices  are  Gay  Lad 
19538  (bull),  $3050;  Black  Knight  of  Estill  9th  (bull),  $2100; 
Blackbird  Wellington  2d*  (bull),  $3010;  Lucia  Estill  (cow), 
$2800;  Waterside  Blackcap  155 1  (cow),  $2050;  Blackbird  of 
Corskie  2d  1235  (cow),  $2050.  Many  cattle  of  this  breed  have 
sold  for  from  $1000  to  $2000  per  head. 

The  prices  brought  by  Aberdeen  Angus  steers  represent  the 
highest  of  the  market.  Advance,  the  grand  champion  of  the 
International  of  1900,  sold  at  auction  the  week  of  the  show  for 
$1.50  a  pound.  He  weighed  1430  pounds,  bringing  $2145,  the 
highest  price  per  pound  for  a  steer  on  record.  Mr.  W.  C. 
McGavock  has  shown  that  from  1889  to  1902  inclusive  Aber- 
deen Angus  cattle  have  topped  the  Christmas  beef  market,  the 
prices  per  hundred  ranging  from  $5.50  to  $21.50  in  1901,  the 
latter  being  for  the  Escher  champion  car  load  of  steers. 

Famous  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle  in  America  number  many  ani- 
mals, but  the  following  may  be  appropriately  named.  Bulls  : 
Ermine  Bearer  1749,  Black  Knight  4751,  Heather  Lad  2d 
7965,  Moon  Eclipser  8635,  Abbotsford  2702,  Black  Monarch 
of  Emerson  30331,  Prince  Ito  50006,  Gay  Lad  19538,  Zaire  5th 
13067,  Black  Abbot  10423,  Knight  of  St.  Patrick  3  54,  Bushranger 
732  and  Heather  Lad  of  Emerson  2d  19049;  cows:  Blackbird 
of  Corskie  685,  Blackbird  of  Corskie  4th  7931,  Rosa  Bonheurof 
Turlington  4718,  Lady  of  Meadowbrook  21466,  Lucia  Windsor 
2775,  Heather  Blossom  306,  Blackcap  1552,  Blackcap  Judy 
40226,  Barbara  P.  3d  19801,  Progress  of  Turlington  71 16, 
Heather  Bloom  of  Turlington  71 17,  Abbess  of  Turlington  9327, 
Zarilda  2d  7057,  and  Rose  of  Emerson  3d  22463. 


224  CATTLE 

Aberdeen  Angus  organizations  are  represented  by  the  Polled 
Cattle  Society  of  Scotland,  organized  in  1879,  and  the  American 
Aberdeen  Angus  Breeders'  Association,  organized  in  1883.  The 
first  Polled  Cattle  Herdbook  was  issued  in  Scotland  in  1862, 
and  Galloways  were  registered  in  the  first  four  volumes  of  the 
Scotch  society.  The  first  volume  of  the  American  association 
was  published  in  1886.  Up  to  January  1,  1905,  the  Scotch 
society  had  published  twenty-nine  volumes  and  the  American 
fourteen.  About  76,000  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle  had  been  regis- 
tered in  the  American  herdbooks  up  to  this  time. 

The  geographical  distribution  of  the  Aberdeen  Angus  is  very 
widespread.  It  is  generally  found  in  northern  Scotland,  in  various 
parts  of  England,  Ireland,  France,  Denmark,  Germany,  South 
America,  New  Zealand,  Sandwich  Islands,  Canada,  and  the 
United  States.  In  America  the  breed  has  met  with  the  most 
favor  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Missouri,  and  on  the 
ranges  westward  of  the  Mississippi,  both  north  and  south.  The 
Aberdeen  Angus,  according  to  some,  is  hardly  the  equal  of 
the  Hereford  on  the  range,  although  it  holds  high  rank  and  is  in 
favor  there. 


CHAPTER    XXX 

THE    GALLOWAY 

The  native  home  of  Galloway  cattle  is  in  southwestern  Scot- 
land adjacent  to  the  sea.  Here  exists  a  district,  comprising  the 
counties  of  Wigton  and  Kirkcudbright  and  parts  of  Ayr  and 
Dumfries,  that  formed  the  ancient  province  or  kingdom  of 
Galloway,  and  from  this  the  breed  takes  its  name.  This  region  is 
generally  rough,  excepting  near  the  seashore,  and  the  soil  is  thin 
and  gravelly.  In  the  southern  part  the  land  is  better  suited 
for  cultivation  ;  in  the  north,  in  Dumfries  and  parts  of  Ayr,  it  is 
mountainous.  Here  the  climate  is  frequently  damp  and  cloudy 
and  often  cold  and  inclement. 

The  origin  of  the  Galloway,  like  that  of  the  Aberdeen  Angus, 
is  quite  obscure.  Youatt  states  that  about  1750  the  greater 
part  of  the  cattle  of  Galloway  were  horned,  but  some  of  them 
were  polled,  a  feature  of  this  breed.  In  1789  George  Culley 
wrote  of  "polled  or  humbled  "  cattle,  and  stated  that  "for  the 
original  of  these  we  must  look  in  Galloway."  Culley  also  notes 
that  graziers  and  drovers  took  them  in  prodigious  numbers  to 
the  fairs  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  England.  Possibly  the  breed  is 
descended  from  polled  wild  cattle.  Various  British  authorities  in- 
dicate that  the  Galloway  is  essentially  a  Kyloe  or  West  Highland 
breed  devoid  of  horns,  and  may  be  a  sport  from  this.  Some  author- 
ities insist  that  Galloways  have  always  been  a  true  polled  breed. 

The  improvement  of  the  Galloway  dates  back  into  the  eighteenth 
century.  Culley  states  that  the  breeders  of  Galloway  complain 
that  the  old  breed  has  become  much  worn  out.  He  then  says  that 
there  is  little  doubt  of  its  not  only  "being  recovered,  but  still 
more  improved,  when  such  a  leading  nobleman  as  Lord  Selkirk 
is  among  the  breeders.  Mr.  Murray  of  Broughton  and  Mr.  Her- 
ring of  Corrough-tree  have  been  long  very  eminent  in  the  breed- 
ing of  Galloway  cattle.    Mr.  Craik,  Mr.  Dalyell,  and  several  others 

225 


226 


CATTLE 


have  tried  a  cross  from  Mr.  Bakewell's  bulls."  This  then  was  a 
Longhorn  cross  on  the  Galloway,  but  Culley  says  that  with  what 
success  he  has  not  been  able  to  learn,  though  breeders  were  gen- 
erally against  crossing  this  on  Longhorns  or  any  other  breed. 
The  Galloway  was  also  crossed  on  the  cattle  of  Westmoreland  and 


'fffl 

L               ] 

*.' 

HI   ■  "■  »                              m      JHH 

Fig.  94.  Worthy  3d  (imp.)  21228.  A  great  prize-winning  Galloway  bull  in 
Scotch  shows,  grand  champion  male  of  the  breed  at  the  Louisiana  Pur- 
chase Exposition  in  1904,  and  champion  at  numerous  other  leading 
American  shows.  Imported  by  C.  E.  Clark,  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota.  Photo- 
graph by  the  author 


Cumberland,  England.  Besides  the  above  breeders,  Youatt,  about 
1835,  mentions  as  early  improvers  the  Gordons  of  Greenlaw,  the 
Maxwells  of  Munches,  and  the  Maitlands  of  Kirkcudbright ;  and 
in  Wigton  the  Earl  of  Galloway,  the  Maxwells  of  Mouneith,  the 
McDowals  of  Logan,  the  Cathcarts  of  Genoch,  the  Hathorns  of 
Castle-Wig,  and  the  Stewarts  of  Phygell.  It  has  been  assumed 
that  in-and-in  breeding  has  not  been  practiced  by  Galloway 
improvers,  but  that  the  development  of  the  breed  has  been 
largely  due  to  careful  selection,  the  breeders  of  Scotland  generally 
uniting  in  this  work.  About  1840  dairying  became  popular  in 
Galloway  district,  notably  Ayr  and  Dumfries,  and  as  the  polled 


THE  GALLOWAY 


227 


cattle  were  not  essentially  good  dairy  producers,  the  people 
neglected  them  and  turned  to  dairy  stock,  especially  Ayrshires. 
In  general  Galloways  suffered  severely  from  neglect,  and  the 
number  sensibly  diminished  all  over  the  district.  A  few  men, 
however,  clung  to  the  breed  in  its  purity  and  worked  for  its 
improvement,  notably  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  James  Graham  of 
Meikle  Culloch,  and  the  Messrs.  Shennan  of  Balig.  In  185  1  a 
step  forward  was  taken  by  establishing  an  annual  Galloway  bull 
sale  at  Lockerbie,  and  soon  after  another  was  established  at 
Castle  Douglas.  In  1862  the  Herdbook  Society  was  organized, 
but  it  is  said  that  active  interest  in  the  breed  was  not  renewed 
until  about  1877. 

The  introduction  of  the  Galloway  to  America  occurred  long  ago, 
though  just  when  is  uncertain.  Polled  cattle  came  to  this  country 
in  some  of  the  early  importations.  L.  F.  Allen  states  that  in 
1837  he  saw  a  very  fine  black  polled  Galloway  cow  at  the  General 
Hospital  in  Philadelphia,  but  he  did  not  ascertain  how  she  came 
there.  In  1853  Graham  Brothers  of  Vaughan,  Ontario,  made  the 
first  importation  to  Canada,  though  L.  F.  Allen  thinks  they  were 
brought  to  the  vicinity  of  Toronto  about  1850.  In  1857  Allen 
saw  upwards  of  forty  of 
the  breed  at  a  show  at 
Brantford,  and  later  saw 
them  elsewhere  in  Canada. 
In  1 86 1  Thomas  McCrae 
of  Guelph,  Ontario,  made 
his  first  importation,  and 
did  much  to  promote  the 
breed,  being  a  leader  in 
the  work.  Galloways  were 
slow  of  introduction  into 
the  United  States,  coming 
to  Michigan  in  1870  and 
spreading  from  there  into 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  and  Missouri.  Even 
then  the  breed  was  very  slightly  known.  In  1885  Mr.  M.  R.  Piatt 
of  Kansas  City  exhibited  some  Galloways  at  the  Cotton  States 
Exposition  at  New  Orleans. 


Fig.  95.  Scottish  Standard  (imp.)  15221,  a 
Galloway  bull  owned  by  Brookside  Farm, 
Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana ;  famous  as  a  sire.  Pho- 
tograph by  the  author 


2  28  CATTLE 

Associations  for  the  promotion  of  Galloways  were  first  organized 
in  1862  in  Scotland,  although  Aberdeen  Angus  were  registered 
with  the  Galloways  in  the  first  four  volumes  of  the  herdbook. 
Then  came  a  breed  separation,  and  later,  in  1877,  followed  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Galloway  Cattle  Society,  with  the  first  Galloway 
herdbook  appearing  in  1878.  The  American  Galloway  Cattle 
Breeders'  Association  was  formed  at  Chicago  on  November  23, 
1882,  although  ten  years  previous  to  this  the  Ontario  Galloway 
Stock  Register  of  Pure  Bred  Galloways  had  been  established  by 
the  Agricultural  and  Arts  Association  of  Ontario.  The  first 
American  herdbook,  known  as  the  North  American  Galloway 
Herdbook,  was  published  in  1883,  since  which,  up  to  1905,  there 
have  been  published  fifteen  volumes,  showing  27,000  registrations. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Galloway.  This  breed  in  general 
appearance  is  short  of  leg  and  close  to  the  ground,  is  polled,  black 
of  color,  has  very  thick  long  hair,  especially  in  winter,  and  is 
somewhat  longer  of  body  and  flatter  of  rib  than  the  Aberdeen 
Angus.  Without  going  into  general  details,  certain  features  of 
the  breed  demand  special  consideration.  The  head  in  a  good 
type  should  be  polled  and  absolutely  free  from  scurs  or  abortive 
horns,  the  poll  being  less  peaked  than  in  the  Aberdeen  Angus. 
There  should  be  strong  breadth  between  the  eyes,  with  shortness 
from  eyes  to  end  of  muzzle,  which  should  be  large  with  ample 
nostrils.  The  ear,  Wallace,  the  Scotch  author,  states,  is  set  rather 
farther  back  than  in  most  breeds  and  should  point  upward  and 
forward.  A  fine,  broad,  pointed  ear  covered  with  long  hair  is 
characteristic.  The  body  of  the  Galloway  is  somewhat  cylindrical 
and  has  considerable  length.  The  rump  is  long  and  the  hind 
quarter  is  usually  well  developed,  especially  in  the  lower  thigh. 
In  quality  the  breed  is  superior,  for  the  bone  is  reasonably  fine, 
the  skin  mellow,  and  the  hair  very  fine,  silky,  curly,  and  long. 
The  color  is  generally  black,  though  a  brownish  or  reddish  tint 
frequently  occurs  in  the  black,  and  is  regarded  by  some  as  an 
indication  of  purity.  White  or  other  color  is  a  disqualification. 
Formerly  the  breed  varied  in  color,  when  there  were  brindles, 
dun-colored,  or  drab,  and  some  with  white  spots.  About  1835 
Youatt  wrote  that  dark  colors  were  uniformly  preferred  from  the 
belief  that  they  indicate  hardiness  of  constitution. 


THE  GALLOWAY  229 

Criticisms  of  the  Galloway  have  long  been  made  by  Amer- 
ican stockmen,  more  especially  for  lack  of  spring  and  fullness 
of  rib,  slackness  of  back,  prominence  of  tail  head,  and  slow 
response  to  generous  feeding.  Some  of  these  criticisms  are 
justified,  but  the  breed  has  been  greatly  improved  over  its 
form  of  twenty-five  years  ago,  and  is  now  less  subject  to 
unfavorable  comment. 

The  modern  type  of  Galloway  represents  an  animal  that  is  free 
from  some  of  the  deficiencies  referred  to.  Through  the  efforts 
of  the  more  prominent  breeders  of  Scotland  and  America  the 


—       ■■iinr—iffn  . 

.r   1  :H|HHBMHHHkHHBHB| 

*  ..."  ■-■ 

W^~            *     %                                 i 

-.§31 

*«|P9IPP*».-' 

FlG.  96.  Evaline  2d  of  Avondale  20124,  grand  champion  Galloway  female  at 
the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904,  and  at  numerous  other  promi- 
nent shows.  Bred  by  O.  H.  Swigart,  Champaign,  Illinois.  Photograph 
by  the  author 

last  dozen  years  have  seen  a  great  improvement  in  the  breed. 
A  wider-backed,  blockier,  better-fleshed,  easier-feeding  sort  has 
resulted  from  a  more  careful  selection  and  a  more  discriminating 
use  of  bulls  on  superior  cows.  Even  yet,  however,  the  Galloway 
does  not  as  a  rule  mature  as  early  or  fatten  as  rapidly  as  the 
Shorthorn,  Hereford,  or  Aberdeen  Angus,  although  Galloway 
cattle  produce  a  very  high-class  meat,  fine  in  grain  and  flavor, 
with  the  fat  internal  rather  than  external,  and  command  a  superior 
price  on  the  market. 


230 


CATTLE 


The  hardiness  of  the  Galloway  is  one  of  its  inherited  character- 
istics, and  it  seems  eminently  suited  to  a  place  on  the  western 
range  where  food  may  be  scarce  and  where  the  rigors  of  winter 
are  great.  The  thick,  long  coat  of  hair  gives  it  better  protection 
from  cold  than  is  provided  any  other  recognized  beef  breed  in 
America.  It  is  for  this  reason  and  for  its  rustling  ability  that  the 
Galloway  is  attaining  more  and  more  popularity  on  the  western 
and  northwestern  range. 

The  hide  of  the  Galloway,  with  its  thick  and  long  fall  or  winter 
coat,  has  a  distinct  value  in  itself.  Properly  tanned  it  furnishes 
a  lap  robe,  overcoat,  or  floor  rug,  surpassing  in  beauty  the  pelt 
of  the  buffalo,  now  so  highly  prized.  Good  Galloway  floor  rugs  or 
lap  robes  easily  sell  for  twenty-five  dollars,  and  overcoats  of  this 
fur  have  changed  hands  at  high  prices.  In  the  northwestern  United 
States  and  Canada  coats  of  this  fur  are  very  common  in  winter. 

The  Galloway  as  a  meat  producer,  as  has  been  indicated,  has 
always  ranked  high.  For  many  years  large  droves  of  Galloways, 
said  to  exceed  twenty  thousand  a  year,  were  driven  from  Scotland 
into  England  and  fattened  and  sold  for  beef,  where  they  met 
with  much  favor.  Galloway  cattle  have  never  been  raised  in 
large  numbers  excepting  in  the  Galloway  district,  and  so  have 
not  usually  been  important  factors  in  the  show  ring,  at  least  out- 
side of  Scotland.  Until  recently  the  steers  have  not  attracted 
attention  in  America,  and  as  yet  have  not  attained  the  highest 
honors  of  the  American  shows  in  open  competition.  They  feed 
uniformly  and  smoothly,  patches  and  rolls  being  uncommon. 

The  cross-bred  Galloway  has  a  distinct  place  in  the  meat  mar- 
ket of  England,  for  the  mating  of  white  Shorthorn  bulls  on  Gal- 
loway cows  has  produced  a  famous  class  of  blue-gray  feeders 
which  kill  out  surpassingly  well,  often  reaching  65  per  cent. 
The  Iowa  Agricultural  College  has  experimented  some  with  this 
breeding,  and  has  shown  a  few  choice  blue  grays  at  the  Inter- 
national Live  Stock  Exposition  at  Chicago.  From  time  to  time 
" prime  Scots"  are  quoted  in  the  English  markets,  and  in  this 
case  these  are  often  blue  grays.  In  1892  the  champion  steer 
at  the  Smithfield  show,  England,  was  a  cross  between  a  Gallo- 
way cow  and  Shorthorn  bull,  which  at  1250  days  weighed 
2276  pounds,  an  average  daily  gain  of  1.82  pounds  from  birth. 


THE  GALLOWAY  23 1 

Mr.  O.  H.  Swigart,  in  writing  on  the  Galloway,  reports  on  two 
loads  of  range  calves  exhibited  by  a  Colorado  man,  the  offspring 
of  common  grade  cows,  many  of  them  Holsteins  and  Jerseys, 
but  all  sired  by  registered  Galloway  bulls.  These  calves  won 
first  and  third  prizes  in  their  class,  and  one  load  won  champion- 
ship in  class  over  other  breeds  by  ages,  and  grand  championship 
over  all  breeds  and  all  ages  as  feeders.  They  were  purchased 
by  an  Indiana  feeder  and  returned  to  market  July  9,  1902.  They 
had  an  average  weight  of  11 JJ  pounds,  and  brought  $8.45  per 


Fig.  97.  Adela  of  Flamboro  12783,  a  high-class  Galloway  cow  owned  by 
Brookside  Farm,  Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana.  This  picture  shows  the  summer 
coat  of  hair,  the  author  having  taken  the  photograph  on  July  4.  Fig.  96 
shows  the  long,  curly  winter  coat,  with  some  fancy  grooming 

hundred,  within  five  cents  of  the  highest  price  ever  paid  on  this 
market  for  range-bred  cattle  of  any  breed,  show-yard  animals 
alone  excepted. 

The  prepotency  of  the  Galloway  is  of  the  first  rank.  Within 
the  breed  there  exists  much  uniformity  of  transmission  of 
character.  In  crossing  or  grading,  where  Galloway  sires  are 
used,  the  offspring  almost  always  inherits  the  color  and  features 
of  the  sire.  James  Biggar,  one  of  the  most  noted  recent  Scotch 
breeders,   states  in  regard  to  the  power  of   transmission,  that 


23' 


CATTLE 


"  when  a  Galloway  bull  is  crossed  with  any  horned  breed  nearly 
90  per  cent  of  the  produce  will  be  black  and  95  to  100  per  cent 
without  horns."  Mr.  A.  M.  Thompson  of  Missouri  reports  using 
a  Galloway  bull  on  a  herd  of  Shorthorn  cows  with  very  great 
success,  98  per  cent  of  the  calves  being  black  and  all  natural 
polls.  Galloways  also  cross  very  successfully  with  Herefords, 
producing  beef  of  the  finest  quality.  The  progeny  of  Galloway 
bulls  on  other  breeds,  says  Robert  Wallace,  the  Scotch  authority, 
"are  on  the  average  distinctly  inferior." 

The  Galloway  as  a  milk  producer  has  no  special  record  and 
very  little  is  said  on  this  point  by  writers  on  the  breed,  excepting 


Fig.  98.  A  pair  of  Galloway  cows  in  the  ring  at  the  Royal  Show,  Man- 
chester, England,  1897.  No.  1429  is  Dora  of  Durhamhill  (13550) 
and  1430  is  Maggie  Lauder  of  Durhamhill  (13994).  The  judges 
disagreed  on  these  two  for  first  place.     Photograph  by  the  author 


that  the  cows  are  amply  able  to  raise  their  calves.  In  fact  this 
is  distinctly  a  beef  breed,  and  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  show 
the  dairy  qualities  of  the  cows.  Here  and  there  note  is  made  of 
a  milk  producer,  as,  for  example,  the  cow  Rosy  4th  of  Mr.  R.  B. 
Cams,  of  Michigan,  reported  by  him  to  have  been  an  extra  milker, 
making  as  high  as  42^  pounds  of  milk  in  a  day,  testing  7.25  per 
cent  fat  by  Babcock  machine.  The  quality  of  the  milk  is  regarded 
as  superior. 

The  size  of  the  Galloway  hardly  equals  that  of  the  Shorthorn, 
Hereford,  or  Aberdeen  Angus,  and  it  may  be  rated  as  a  bit  smaller 
than  these,  at  the  same  age.    Mr.  A.  M.  Thompson  states  that 


THE  GALLOWAY  233 

as  yearlings  past  they  can  be  made  to  weigh  from  1000  to  1200 
pounds;  at  two,  1200  to  1400;  at  three,  from  1400  to  1600. 
Typical  bulls  will  weigh  about  1800  to  1900  pounds,  and  cows 
1200  to  1300  pounds. 

The  distribution  of  the  Galloway  is  mainly  in  Scotland  and 
America.  The  breed  is  found  in  small  herds  as  a  rule,  east  of  the 
Mississippi,  though  some  of  the  best-known  herds  are  in  Indiana 
and  Illinois.  Galloways  are  found  on  the  ranges  and  farms  all 
over  the  far  West,  and  especially  in  the  Canadian  Northwest.  Im- 
portant herds  are  also  found  in  Missouri,  Iowa,  and  Minnesota. 

American  improvers  of  the  Galloway  of  special  note  are  Brook- 
side  Farm,  Indiana;  O.  H.  Swigart  and  Marion  Parr,  Illinois; 
Wavertree  Farm  and  N.  P.  Clarke,  Minnesota ;  C.  N.  Moody, 
Missouri ;  E.  H.  White,  Iowa  ;  and  John  and  David  McCrae, 
Canada.  These  firms  have  brought  the  breed  most  promi- 
nently before  the  public  and  have  bred  or  imported  some  of 
the  best  specimens  of  Galloways  to  be  found  in  Scotland. 

Galloway  bulls  of  distinction  that  have  materially  helped  to 
give  fame  to  the  breed  in  more  recent  times  are  Camp  Follower 
(5042),  Pathfinder  3d  (5991),  Scottish  Standard  (6488)  15 221, 
Kekionga  (2894)  2894,  Druid  of  Castlemilk  (6159)  17054,  King 
Hensol  9967,  Camp  Follower  of  Stepford  (7476),  and  Worthy  3d 
(7762)  21228. 

The  prices  derived  for  Galloways  do  not  average  high,  yet,  in 
view  of  the  lack  of  knowledge  of  the  breed,  they  make  a  fair 
showing.  A  summary  of  740  animals  sold  at  auction  from  1892 
to  1 90 1  inclusive,  published  by  the  Kansas  Board  of  Agriculture, 
shows  an  average  of  $126.75  Per  head  for  both  sexes,  or  $141.43 
for  233  bulls  and  $110.51  for  318  cows. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

THE  SUSSEX 

The  native  home  of  Sussex  cattle  is  in  the  county  of  Sussex, 
bordering  the  English  Channel  in  south  England,  though  they  are 
also  bred  in  the  adjoining  counties  of  Kent,  Surrey,  and  Hamp- 
shire. The  land  is  tenacious  and  clayey  and  more  or  less  rolling, 
the  famous  Southdown  hills  passing  through  the  southern  part. 
The  climate  is  mild  and  the  grazing  superior. 

The  origin  of  Sussex  cattle  is  associated  with  that  of  the 
Devon  and  Hereford,  dating  back  several  centuries.  These 
cattle  were  formerly  bred  for  draft  purposes  and  were  largely 
used  to  cultivate  the  soil  on  the  farms  of  Sussex  and  Kent. 
In  early  days  the  Sussex  much  resembled  the  larger  cattle  of 
north  Devon. 

The  introduction  of  Sussex  cattle  to  America  first  took  place 
in  1884,  when  Mr.  Overton  Lea  imported  a  considerable  herd, 
which  he  has  since  maintained  near  Nashville,  Tennessee.  In 
1 89 1  several  head  were  imported  to  Canada  for  the  Agricultural 
College  at  Guelph,  though  perhaps  others  preceded  them  into 
that  region. 

The  characteristics  of  Sussex  cattle.  The  color  is  a  solid  red, 
a  moderately  deep  shade  being  preferred.  The  horns  incline  to 
be  large  and  long,  curving  around  in  front,  often  inclining  down- 
ward slightly.  The  nose  is  of  flesh  color.  The  form  is  essentially 
blocky,  the  ribs  being  well  sprung  and  long,  and  the  body  capa- 
cious. The  rump  is  long,  level,  and  broad,  and  the  thighs  of  a 
distinctly  thick,  beefy  sort.  The  skin  is  mellow  and  thick  and 
is  often  covered  with  a  thick  coat  of  hair  which  in  winter  is 
frequently  curly.  Compared  with  Devons  they  present  more 
size  and  general  beefiness,  do  not  tend  to  the  dual-purpose 
type,  give  less  milk,  have  heavier  horns,  thicker  necks,  deeper 
shoulders,  and  are  coarser  appearing. 

234 


THE  SUSSEX 


235 


The  size  of  Sussex  cattle  is  large,  comparable  with  the  Here- 
ford, which  they  somewhat  resemble,  excepting  for  color.  Some 
Sussex  have  attained  very  heavy  weights.  Cows  frequently 
weigh  about  1400  pounds  and  bulls  2000  pounds. 

The  beef  properties  of  Sussex  cattle  are  superior  and  may  be 
fairly  compared  with  the  Shorthorn  for  merit.  From  early  days 
in  the  last  century  the  breed  has  made  an  excellent  record  in 
the  fat  stock  show  contests  of  England.  In  Feeds  and  Feeding 
Professor  Henry  gives  the  following  record  of  Sussex  cattle 
shown  at  the  Smithfield  show  between  1888  and  1895  : 


Number 
Animals 

Age 

Average 
Daily  Gain 

Live 

Weight 

Per  cent 
Dressed 

1  year  old 

3     "      " 

17 
18 
12 

677  days 

989     " 
1285     " 

2.15  lb. 
1.86  " 
1.61   " 

1452  lb. 

1837    " 
2064    " 

65.42 
68.18 
67.98 

Mr.  W.  W.  Chapman,  in  the  Live  Stock  Journal  Almanac 
for  1903,  also  publishes  a  table  of  Sussex  weights  and  gains 
based  on  Smithfield  Club  shows.  In  this  13  steers,  averaging 
about  681  days  old,  weighed  an  average  of  1433^  pounds; 
six,  with  an  average  of  1043  days,  weighed  1829  pounds;  and 
ten  heifers,  averaging  979  days,  weighed  1588^  pounds.  In 
1902  the  first-prize  Sussex  two-year-old  steer  at  the  Smith- 
field  show  dressed  68.02  per  cent.  In  1885  at  the  American 
Fat  Stock  Show  a  yearling  Sussex  steer  received  the  class 
prize  on  the  butcher's  block  and  came  within  one  vote  of  win- 
ning sweepstakes.  Housman  states  that  the  averages  for  Sus- 
sex steers  between  three  and  four  years  old  exhibited  at  the 
Smithfield  Club  Show  during  1882,  1883,  1884,  and  1885 
showed  a  general  average  weight  of  about  i8|  hundredweight 
(2072  pounds). 

The  milk-giving  qualities  of  Sussex  cattle  are  such  as  might 
be  expected  with  a  breed  tending  strongly  to  beef  production, 
being  somewhat  inferior.  The  breed  in  recent  years  has  not  met 
with  favor  in  this  respect.  The  milk,  however,  is  superior  in 
quality  if  not  in  quantity. 


236  CATTLE 

Cross-bred  and  grade  Sussex  cattle  do  well  for  beef  production, 
making  good  grazers  well  suited  to  the  Mississippi  Valley,  where 
feed  is  abundant.  Sussex  sires  on  native  or  grade  cows  should 
result  in  a  class  of  cattle  that  will  dress  a  high  per  cent. 

The  early  maturing  and  grazing  value  of  the  Sussex  is  highly 
testified  to  by  various  breeders.  As  grazers  Mr.  Lea  rates  the 
breed  as  equal  to  the  Hereford,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  they  will 
mature  as  early. 

The  distribution  of  Sussex  cattle  is  rather  limited.  There  are 
numerous  herds  in  southeastern  and  southern  England.    In  the 


Fig.  99.  General  Roberts  (500)  a  Sussex  bull  imported  by  Mr.  Overton  Lea, 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  in  1884.  Won  first  prize  in  class  at  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show.    Photograph  from  Mr.  Lea 

United  States  two  large  herds  have  been  maintained,  that  of  Mr. 
Lea  in  Tennessee  and  one  in  Maine.  There  are  a  few  small 
herds  in  Canada,  Illinois,  Indiana,  and  in  some  of  the  trans- 
Mississippi  states.    Sussex  have  also  been  imported  to  South 


THE  SUSSEX 


237 


Africa,  Egypt,  Antigua,  and  perhaps  to  other  British  colonies. 
Whether  the  breed  will  become  more  popular  time  only  can  tell. 
It  has  not  yet  been  much  tried  outside  of  its  native  home,  but 
it  seems  to  have  succeeded  there  and  at  the  same  time  to  have 
made  a  good  showing  for  itself  in  public  competition. 


Fig.  100.    The  Sussex  cow  Milkmaid.    Photograph  from 
Mr.  Overton  Lea,  Nashville,  Tennessee 


The  promotion  of  the  Sussex  breed  first  took  place  in  England. 
Mr.  Alfred  Heasman  of  Little  Hampton,  Sussex,  published  the 
first  three  volumes  of  a  Sussex  herdbook,  Vol.  I  commencing 
with  pedigrees  from  1855.  In  1888  the  Sussex  Herdbook 
Society  acquired  the  records.  From  that  time  up  to  1905  this 
society  has  published  twenty  herdbooks.  The  American  Sussex 
Cattle  Association  was  organized  in  1888,  and  Vol.  I  of  the 
herd  register  is  to  be  issued  in   1906. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

THE  WEST  HIGHLAND 

The  native  home  of  West  Highland  cattle  is  in  the  elevated 
uplands  of  western  Scotland.  This  particularly  applies  to  that 
section  known  as  the  Highlands  in  Argyll,  Inverness,  and  Perth 
counties,  and  the  Hebrides  Islands  off  the  west  coast. 

The  origin  of  the  West  Highland  breed,  which  has  also  been 
called  the  "Kyloe  "  by  some,  is  generally  conceded  to  be  derived 
from  the  aboriginal  cattle  of  Britain,  of  which  the  present  wild 
white  cattle  are  descendants.  This  breed  has  been  known  for 
centuries,  but  has  been  kept  on  a  comparatively  small  scale. 
During  the  first  half  of  the  last  century  two  of  the  herds  that 
improved  the  breed  were  those  of  Mr.  Malcolm  of  Poltalloch  in 
Argyll  and  the  Marquis  of  Breadalbane  of  Perth. 

The  introduction  of  the  West  Highland  cattle  to  America  is  of 
only  passing  moment.  In  1879  Lewis  F.  Allen,  one  of  the 
best-informed  cattle  authorities  in  America  in  the  nineteenth 
century,  stated  that  he  knew  of  none  in  the  United  States,  but 
was  of  the  impression  that  a  few  were  imported  into  Upper 
Canada  some  years  before.  About  1883  some  West  Highlanders 
were  imported,  among  which  was  the  cow  Maid  of  Castle  Grant, 
which  was  shown  at  a  number  of  fairs  in  1888  and  1889  by 
Judge  J.  S.  Goodwin  of  Kansas.  In  1891  several  West  High- 
land cattle  were  exhibited  at  the  American  Fat  Stock  Show 
at  Chicago.  In  1902  Mr.  W.  M.  Van  Norden  of  Westchester 
County,  New  York,  imported  a  small  herd  and  made  an  exhibit 
at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  in  1904.  Other  cattle  of 
this  breed  were  imported  by  several  persons  in  1906. 

Characteristics  of  West  Highland  cattle.  This  breed  is  very 
picturesque  and  distinct  in  character.  The  color  is  variable,  being 
yellow,  red,  black,  brindle,  and  a  mixture  of  red  and  black,  the 
former  color  predominating.    Broken  colors  are  not  liked.    In  one 

238 


THE  WEST  HIGHLAND 


239 


herd  or  in  the  Scotch  shows  one  may  see  all  these  colors.  The  hair 
is  very  long  and  shaggy,  often  reaching  six  inches  in  length. 
The  head  is  very  hairy  and  is  surmounted  by  very  long,  large 
horns  which  curve  forward  and  upward  with  the  points  wide 
apart.  The  horns  are  white  with  light  colors,  or  white  with  dark 
tips  with  dark  colors.  The  color  of  the  muzzle  varies  from  buff 
or  flesh  shade  to  dark,  in  harmony  with  depth  of  color  of  hair. 


Fig.  ioi.  Head  of  the  Highland  bull  Sir  Andrew  (1742),  champion  of  the 
breed  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1 904,  and  one  of  the  few  males 
of  the  breed  in  America.    Owned  by  W.  M.  Van  Norden,  Rye,  New  York 

The  neck  is  short  and  thick  with  a  mane  on  top  and  heavy  dewlap 
below.  "In  form,"  says  John  Robertson  of  Blair  Athol,  "it 
possesses  all  the  characteristics  so  much  and  so  justly  prized  in 
the  Shorthorn  —  the  straight  back,  the  short  legs,  the  broad 
chest,  the  breadth  of  loin  and  depth  of  rib,  and,  in  short,  the 
*  squareness  '  and  solidity  of  form  which  always  imply  weight, 
whether  in  man  or  beast  ;  while  the  noble  branching  horns,  the 
fine,  full,  and  fearless  eye,  the  short,  broad,  well-bred  muzzle,  the 


240 


CATTLE 


shaggy  coat  of  richest  black  or  red  or  dun  or  brindle  color,  impart  a 
picturesqueness  which  is  still  further  enhanced  by  that  grace  and 
deliberation  of  movement  so  distinctive  of  all  animals  reared  in  per- 
fect freedom."  The  temperament  is  wild  and  bold,  due  to  a  con- 
dition of  natural  lack  of  restraint  unknown  among  other  breeds. 

The  size  of  the  West  Highland  cattle  is  comparatively  small, 
cows  perhaps  averaging  900  p'ounds  and  males  1200,  although 
one  sees  some  larger  on  the  hills  and  at  the  shows  in  Scotland. 


Fig.  102.  Mora  Oroughty,  champion  Highland  cow  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
Exposition,  1904.  A  very  typical  specimen.  Exhibited  by  W.  M.  Van 
Norden,  Rye,  New  York.    Photograph  by  the  author 


The  West  Highland  breed  as  a  beef  producer  is  superlative  so 
far  as  quality  is  concerned.  The  meat  is  fine  of  grain,  the  fat  is 
well  distributed  among  the  lean,  the  flavor  is  unsurpassed,  and 
the  carcasses  dress  out  well.  In  the  British  market  beef  of  this 
breed  ranks  at  the  top.  Yet  these  cattle  feed  very  slowly  and 
mature  late,  and  seem  best  adapted  to  feeding  under  Scotch 
mountain  environment. 

The  hardiness  of  West  Highland  cattle  is  remarkable.  Used  to 
a  free  life  on  the  Scotch  hills,  where  summer  and  winter  they 


THE  WEST  HIGHLAND 


241 


graze  on  grass  and  heather,  they  seem  capable  of  enduring  the 
roughest  climate.  In  a  letter  on  this  breed  the  Earl  of  Dunmore 
wrote  in  1887,  bearing  on  their  suitability  to  the  more  exposed 
northwestern  American  range  : 

My  average  yearly  loss  has  not  been  three  per  cent,  which  in  a  large  fold 
of  some  four  or  five  hundred  head  of  cattle  is  very  small.  January,  February, 
and  March  are  pretty  hard  months  for  them,  as  they  get  no  food  beyond  what 
they  pick  up  on  the  hills  where  they  are  wintered.  I  have  often  seen  them 
scraping  away  the  snow  to  get  at  the  grass  ;  but  notwithstanding  their  being 
out  all  winter,  they  produce  in  April  and  May  as  strong  and  lusty-looking 
calves  as  a  man  could  wish  to  see,  with  lots  of  bone  and  tremendous  thick  coats. 
That,  to  my  mind,  is  the  coming  breed  for  the  great  northwestern  ranges. 


Fig.  103.    A  group  of  Highland  cattle.    Photograph  from'G.  M.  Rommel, 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  milking  qualities  of  the  West  Highland  are  not  important, 
for  the  cows  are  milked  usually  by  the  calves  only.  The  milk, 
however,  is  considered  rich  in  quality. 

The  breeding  qualities  of  West  Highland  cattle  rank  high, 
though  the  heifers  are  not  bred  the  first  time  until  three  years 
of  age.  Earl  Dunmore  states  that  he  could  quote  from  his 
private  herdbook  several  cases  of  cows,  after  having  their  first 
calves  at  four  years,  continuing  to  produce  yearly  thereafter  up 
to  fourteen  years  of  age  one  living  calf  and  sometimes  twins,  all 
of  them  being  born  on  the  mountain  side. 

Cross-bred  or  grade  Highland  cattle  are  best  suited  to  condi- 
tions where  food  is  scarce  and  winters  rough.  Highland  bulls 
on  native  western-range  cows  would  furnish  hardy  stock,  but  it 
is  not  likely  that  it  would  meet  with  a  favorable  reception  from 
buyers,  compared  with  the  present  very  acceptable  Hereford, 


242  CATTLE 

Angus,  or  Galloway  grades.  The  claim  is  made  by  excellent 
Scotch  authorities  that  West  Highland  cows  cross  well  with 
bulls  of  most  of  the  British  beef  breeds.  Where  food  is  abun- 
dant and  the  climate  not  too  severe,  such  a  cross  may  be  advis- 
able. On  the  more  elevated  Scotch  hills,  however,  where  winter 
exposure  is  great,  the  cross-bred  progeny  will  not  do  so  well  as 
the  pure-bred.  Such  cross-breds  could  not  be  expected  to  have 
the  hardiness  of  the  pure  stock. 

An  organization  of  West  Highland  cattle  breeders  was  formed 
by  Earl  Dunmore  in  1884,  and  a  herdbook  published  that  year, 
some  nine  volumes  having  appeared  up  to  1905. 

The  distribution  of  the  West  Highland  breed  is  mainly  in  Scot- 
land, in  the  regions  previously  indicated,  although  herds  are 
kept  in  England,  where  steers  are  also  fed  to  a  small  extent. 
Although  many  owners  of  large  estates  maintain  this  breed  for 
its  picturesque  character  and  easy  keep,  yet  it  is  not  common, 
excepting  in  western  Scotland.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  this  is 
strictly  a  mountain  breed,  one  might  assume  that  it  would  do 
well  on  the  better  pastures  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  Graz- 
ing of  an  excellent  character  is  found  on  the  mountains  of  Vir- 
ginia, North  Carolina,  and  Tennessee.  The  winters  in  that 
region  lack  the  severity  of  the  North,  thus  permitting  living  on 
the  range  the  entire  year. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

DAIRY  TYPE  OF  CATTLE 

The  general  appearance  of  dairy  cattle  is  notably  different  from 
that  of  beef  stock.  They  have  less  thickness  of  body,  less  breadth 
of  back,  narrower  thighs,  slenderer  neck,  and  a  more  muscular 
character  generally.  The  males  are  notably  narrower  at  the 
withers  and  more  divided  between  the  hind  quarters,  while  the 
females  are  rather  sharp  over  the  withers  and  full  and  heavy 
behind,  with  udder  of  ample  proportions.  A  rather  long,  deep- 
ribbed,  muscular,  not  fleshy  body,  and  shortness  of  leg  is  notable 
in  the  high-class  male.  A  triple-wedge  form  is  associated  with 
the  dairy  cow.  Viewed  from  one  side  she  shows  less  depth  of 
body  in  front  than  behind.  Secondly,  she  gradually  widens  from 
the  breast  to  the  points  of  the  hips  and  hind  quarters.  Thirdly, 
as  one  looks  down  on  the  back  at  the  withers  the  form  widens 
out  like  a  wedge  towards  the  middle  of  the  body.  Many  superior 
dairy  cows  show  this  wedge  form  in  a  striking  degree,  but  excep- 
tions occur,  where  the  heavy  milk  production  is  not  associated 
with  an  ideal  dairy  shape.  Fleshiness  with  either  sex  is  distinctly 
objectionable,  unless  with  young  animals  not  yet  in  lactation. 

The  head  of  the  dairy  animal  should  be  lean,  broad  of  muzzle, 
large  of  nostril,  moderately  short  and  broad  of  nose,  with  some  dish 
to  the  face.  Prominent,  clear,  calm  eyes,  wide  apart,  beneath  a 
broad  full  forehead,  are  essential.  The  cheeks  should  be  deep  and 
the  lower  jaw  strong.  The  fine,  medium-sized,  thin,  pointed  ears 
must  be  neatly  placed  and  be  covered  with  fine  hair  on  the  out- 
side, with  longer  hair  at  tip  and  edges.  If  there  be  horns,  they 
should  exhibit  quality,  not  being  coarse  or  shelly.  The  top  of  the 
head,  or  poll,  should  be  covered  with  a  thick  layer  of  fine  long 
hair,  especially  in  cold  weather.  A  yellow  color  of  the  inner  skin 
of  ear  and  a  yellowish  waxy  color  to  horn,  especially  at  the  base, 
are  regarded  as  indicating  that  a  cow  will  yield  milk  rich  in  fat. 

243 


244 


CATTLE 


The  neck  tends  to  be  long  and  muscular.  With  the  bulls  it  is 
especially  strong  and  heavily  muscled,  usually  possessing  a  prom- 
inent arch,  while  the  neck  of  the  cow  is  thin  and  long.  The 
lower  part  of  the  neck  usually  has  more  or  less  dewlap,  this  being 
a  thin  edge  of  skin  extending  from  the  brisket  upwards.  A  very 
deep  neck  with  much  dewlap,  fullness  at  the  throat,  or  a  short, 
thick  neck  on  dairy  cattle  are  objectionable,  showing  lack  of  quality 
and  type.  While  the  neck  should  have  a  neat  attachment  at  head 
and  shoulders,  it  does  not  blend  in  so  smoothly  as  with  beef 
cattle,  owing  to  lack  of  flesh. 

The  shoulders  should  incline  at  a  good  angle  well  into  the 
back,  lying  fairly  close  together  and  forming  with  the  back  line 
rather  refined,  narrow,  or  sharp  withers.  With  the  males  greater 
breadth  of  withers  is  looked  for.  The  shoulders  are  usually 
somewhat  prominent,  but  heaviness  or  meatiness  is  distinctly 
objectionable. 

The  breast  of  dairy  cattle  does  not  show  so  great  width  as  the 
beef  type,  and  the  brisket  is  narrower  and  sharper,  and  not  carried 
quite  so  far  forward. 

The  chest,  like  the  breast,  which  is  a  part  of  it,  does  not  show 
great  thickness,  but  ample  depth  and  reasonable  spring  of  rib  is 
desired.  The  crops,  at  the  top  of  the  chest  behind  the  shoulders, 
are  usually  somewhat  deficient  in  dairy  cattle.  At  this  place  the 
ribs  should  have  a  fair  arch  from  the  back,  showing  ample  chest 
room  below.  The  front  flanks  also  should  be  well  filled  out,  show- 
ing a  good  constitution  in  the  ample  chest  capacity. 

The  front  legs  should  be  straight  from  side  or  front,  coming 
down  without  marked  crookedness  at  knee  or  wide  turning  in  or 
out  of  toes.  A  common  feature  of  dairy  cattle  of  both  sexes  is 
to  have  the  knees  come  quite  close  together  when  in  a  natural 
position,  thus  indicating  a  narrow  chest  and  poor  constitution. 

The  back  of  the  dairy  type  frequently  shows  some  droop  from 
shoulder  to  hip  line.  Some  persons  regard  a  sway  back  as  neces- 
sarily associated  with  dairy  type.  A  strong  back,  well  sustained, 
with  but  little  depression,  if  at  all,  is  much  to  be  preferred.  Argu- 
ments have  been  advanced  by  some  that  a  large  backbone,  with 
the  vertebrae  somewhat  separated,  offers  important  evidence  of 
such  a  nervous  temperament  as  should  be  associated  with  the 


DAIRY  TYPE  OF  CATTLE 


245 


dairy  type.  Through  the  backbone  the  spinal  cord  passes,  con- 
necting with  the  brain  and  the  entire  nervous  system.  A  large 
backbone  may  indicate  a  large  spinal  cord  and  strong  nervous 
temperament,  a  characteristic  of  the  dairy  type.  Further  there 
should  be  a  strong,  level,  broad  loin  and  also  fair  width  of  back 
throughout,  although  not  equal  to  that  of  the  beef  type. 

The  ribs  should  be  sufficiently  long  and  arched  to  provide 
a  capacious  body,  a  feature  most  important  with  animals  of  this 


Fig.  104.  This  Guernsey  cow,  Count  Topsey,  owned  by  J.  H.  Beirne,  Oakfield, 
Wisconsin,  shows  a  remarkably  high-class  dairy  type.  As  her  hind  quar- 
ters are  nearer  the  camera  than  the  fore  quarters,  it  shows  the  wedge  form 
in  an  abnormal  degree.  The  udder  from  the  side  view  appears  nearly 
perfect.    Photograph  from  Mr.  Beirne 


class.  Flat  and  short  ribs  go  with  poor  feeders  and  defective 
constitutions.  The  body  of  the  dairy  type  being  moderately  long 
or  rangy,  the  ribs  do  not  lie  quite  so  close  together,  perhaps,  as 
with  the  beef  type,  neither  is  the  coupling  between  the  last  rib 
and  point  of  hip  as  close  as  with  other  cattle. 

The  hips  tend  to  be  somewhat  prominent  with  both  males  and 
females.  The  hip  points  of  the  male  should  be  neat  and  moder- 
ately close,  not  wide,  while  those  of  the  female  may  be  more 


246  CATTLE 

widespread  and  prominent.  This  allows  plenty  of  room  for  the 
breeding  organs  of  the  female. 

The  rump  of  the  dairy  type  calls  for  ample  length,  breadth, 
and  levelness.  This  offers  more  room  for  the  reproductive 
operation,  the  peaked,  droopy  rump  frequently  causing  trouble 
in  calving,  due  to  lack  of  room  for  the  easy  exit  of  the  calf.  The 
backbone  should  be  prominent  along  the  middle  of  the  rump,  in 
keeping  with  the  rest  of  the  back.  The  backbone  from  the  hips 
to  the  tail  head  over  the  pelvis,  on  account  of  its  prominence, 
shows  a  rise  which  is  often  termed  the  "pelvic  arch."  A  fat 
rump  is  objectionable,  a  feature  found  usually  in  inferior  milkers 
and  animals  of  the  beefy  type. 

The  thighs  of  dairy  cattle  should  be  muscular  rather  than  fat. 
A  heavy,  thick  type  of  hind  quarter  is  not  desirable.  The  thigh 
should  be  long,  should  have  a  rather  thin  back  edge,  and  should 
curve  on  the  inside  so  as  to  permit  ample  room  between  the 
hind  legs.  A  thick  thigh  and  deep  twist  is  unfavorable  to  large 
udder  development. 

The  hocks,  to  secure  the  necessary  room  for  the  udder,  must 
be  muscular,  clean,  and  thin,  and  should  point  directly  back, 
with  ample  space  between. 

The  legs  from  hock  down  should  stand  square,  as  viewed 
from  side  or  rear,  the  toes  pointing  directly  forward  or  nearly  so. 
If  the  toes  turn  out,  the  animal  hocks  in  and  has  a  faulty  confor- 
mation. Rarely  the  toes  turn  in  and  the  hocks  bend  outward,  giv- 
ing a  weak  and  poor  position  to  the  legs.  The  shank  bones  should 
be  smooth  and  short,  showing  refinement  of  bone  and  quality. 

The  tail  is  important,  mainly  as  a  medium  for  protection  from 
flies.  Consequently  length  and  a  heavy  brush  of  hair  are  essen- 
tial. The  fleshy  part  should  extend  to  the  point  of  the  hock,  and 
the  brush  clear  the  level  of  the  feet  by  two  or  three  inches. 
The  root  of  the  tail,  or  tail  head,  should  carry  on  a  line  with  the 
back,  showing  no  coarseness  or  special  prominence,  fitting  neatly 
to  the  end  of  the  body.  The  tail  as  a  whole  is  an  indicator  of 
quality,  and  should  be  refined  rather  than  large  and  coarse. 

The  udder  of  the  dairy  cow  is  a  most  important  part.  In  form 
it  should  be  moderately  thick,  filling  up  well  between  the  thighs, 
should  extend  by  graceful  curve  high  up  behind,  and  should  be 


DAIRY  TYPE  OF  CATTLE 


247 


extended  well  along  the  belly.  The  bottom  of  the  udder  in  its 
best  form  has  four  teats  some  three  or  four  inches  long,  hanging 
on  the  same  level  and  placed  far  enough  apart  to  be  comfortably 
grasped  in  the  hands.  When  the  milk  is  removed  from  the  udder 
that  organ  should  be  soft  and  pliable,  showing  much  shrinkage. 
The  hind  part,  located  between  wide-spreading  thighs,  should 
show  much  elasticity,  with  folds  of  skin  apparent  in  the  empty 
udder,  especially  with  mature  cows.  Over  the  entire  udder  a 
mellow,  soft  skin  and  fine  coat  of  hair  should  be  found.  Com- 
mon defects  of  the  udder  are  small,  poor  fronts,  with  the  teats 
on  this  part  elevated  much  above  or  close  to  the  hind  ones  ; 
small  teats,  especially  with  some  breeds  ;  meaty  udders,  which 
reduce  but  little  with  milking  and  yield  a  comparatively  small 
flow,  and  last,  but  not  least,  small  udders  entirely  lacking  in  profit- 
producing  capacity.  Large  cows  should  have  larger  udders  than 
small  cows,  but  an  animal  of  from  900  to  1000  pounds  weight, 
at  six  years  old,  should  have  an  udder  of  comparatively  large  size 
in  full  flow  of  milk,  such  as  will  yield  at  least  40  pounds  a  day. 
However,  this  standard  does  not  apply  to  the  larger,  heavier 
milking  breeds,  which  should  do  even  better  than  this. 

The  milk  veins  which  convey  blood  through  the  udder  are 
usually  regarded  as  indications  of  a  cow's  general  capacity  to 
produce  milk.  Young  heifers  have  small  veins,  and  with  matu- 
rity they  increase  in  prominence.  On  old  cows  they  may  be  very 
tortuous,  extending  from  the  udder  forward  with  numerous  turns 
along  the  belly  until  they  enter  the  wall  of  the  belly  through 
holes  known  as  "  milk  wells."  These  latter  should  show  com- 
paratively large  size  on  the  application  of  the  end  of  the  finger 
at  the  orifice.  Many  cows  have  three  milk  veins,  two  long  ones 
on  the  outer  part  of  the  belly  and  a  short  one  between.  In  rare 
cases  the  veins  branch  into  numerous  small  ones  along  the  belly 
just  in  front  of  the  udder.  Small  veins  also  occur  on  the  udders 
of  some  cows.  The  length  of  vein  varies,  usually  extending  about 
halfway  to  the  fore  legs,  although  cases  occur  of  their  extend- 
ing to  the  leg  itself,  disappearing  behind  the  arm.  The  size  of 
the  vein  varies  much,  the  larger  ones  having  a  diameter  of  about 
three  fourths  of  an  inch.  Small  veins  are  found  on  the  belly 
of  the  males,  while  miniature  teats,  known  as  "rudimentaries," 


248  CATTLE 

are  found  along  in  front  of  and  on  each  side  of  the  scrotum,  or 
purse,  two  usually  occurring  a  short  distance  apart  on  a  side. 
The  length  and  size  of  rudimentaries  varies  greatly,  ranging  from 
small  buttons  to  teats  an  inch  long.  We  have  no  definite  knowl- 
edge regarding  the  significance  of  these,  some  persons  thinking 
that  the  larger  they  are  the  better  the  evidence  that  the  male 
will  transmit  large  milkers.  Others  have  speculated  that  the 
position  of  the  rudimentaries  indicated  the  placing  of  the  teats 
and  form  of  fore  udder  on  the  offspring  of  the  sire. 

The  escutcheon,  also  known  as  the  "  milk  mirror,"  is  found  along 
the  back  of  the  thighs  or  between  them,  and  has  attracted  special 
attention  on  dairy  cattle  only.  This  is  shown  by  a  line  of  hair 
turning  to  one  side  or  upward,  in  contrast  to  the  usual  downward 
position  of  the  hair.  This  line  of  reversed  hair  was  investigated 
by  a  Frenchman  named  Guenon,  who  argued  that  the  escutcheon 
indicated  the  capacity  of  a  cow  to  produce  milk.  In  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  extent  and  position  of  the  reversed  hair  varies  along- 
side or  above  the  udder,  Guenon  classified  its  occurrence,  giving 
different  names  according  to  the  prominence  and  character 
shown.  Modern  dairy-cattle  authorities  attach  no  special  signifi- 
cance to  the  escutcheon,  Guenon' s  theories  not  having  been 
borne  out  in   fact. 

The  quality  of  the  dairy  type  is  shown  in  the  character  of  skin 
and  hair,  size  of  horn,  ear,  and  bone,  and  general  proportions. 
Under  the  ordinary  conditions  of  keep  for  cattle  of  this  class  the 
skin  should  be  very  mellow  and  pliable,  thinner  than  with  beef 
cattle,  with  a  shorter  length  of  hair.  No  class  of  cattle  show 
quality  so  clearly  as  do  some  of  the  dairy  type,  as  indicated 
by  handling,  there  being  a  rich,  mellow,  oily  feel  commonly  asso- 
ciated with  the  skin  of  high-class  animals.  The  skin  also  will 
often  show  a  yellow  oily  secretion,  conspicuous  at  the  ears, 
between  the  thighs,  and  about  the  udder  and  scrotum. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 


THE  JERSEY 


The  native  home  of  the  Jersey  is  on  the  island  of  that  name  in 
the  English  Channel,  about  fourteen  miles  from  the  coast  of 
France.  This  is  one  of  the  group  known  as  the  Channel  Islands  ; 
they  belong  to  Great  Britain,  and  comprise  mainly  Jersey,  the 
largest,  Guernsey,  Alderney,  and  Sark.  Jersey  is  about  eleven 
miles  long  and  six  wide  and  contains  39,580  acres.  The  north 
shore  of  the  island  is  precipitous,  the  land  gently  sloping  south- 
ward. The  principal  crops 
are  potatoes  and  other 
vegetables,  fruits  and 
flowers,  Jersey  cattle  and 
their  products.  The  cli- 
mate is  most  balmy,out-of- 
door  life  being  pleasant  all 
the  year.  So  healthful  are 
the  conditions  that  tuber- 
culosis among  the  cattle 
is  almost  unknown.  The 
soil  is  very  rich  and  most 
productive.  The  island 
has  a  population  of  about 
60,000.  There  are  twelve 
parishes,  and  the  farms  are 
small,  ranging  from  five  to  twenty  acres  each.  Notwithstanding 
its  small  size  there  are  about  12,000  cattle  kept  on  Jersey,  accord- 
ing to  late  reports,  and  the  herds  are  well  maintained. 

The  origin  of  the  Jersey  is  unknown.  The  most  probable  the- 
ory is  that  it  is  descended  from  stock  on  the  neighboring  section 
of  France,  notably  Brittany  and  Normandy.     While  the  cattle 

249 


Fig.  105.  Pedro  3187  at  18  years  of  age.  Grand 
champion  Jersey  male  at  the  World's  Colum- 
bian Exposition,  1893,  ano^  one  °f  tne  most 
noted  of  American-bred  Jersey  bulls,  long  at 
the  head  of  the  herd  of  Mr.  T.  S.  Cooper, 
Coopersburg,  Pennsylvania.  Photograph 
from  Mr.  Cooper 


250  CATTLE 

of  those  regions  to-day  do  not  closely  resemble  the  Jersey,  they 
have  some  things  in  common.  The  fawn  or  white  color  has  been 
attributed  to  certain  cattle  of  Normandy,  while  the  blacker  color 
has  been  ascribed  to  the  Brittany  cattle,  it  being  assumed  that 
the  Jersey  has  resulted  from  the  fusing  of  these  French  types. 
Historically  the  first  description  regarding  the  Jersey  that  the 
author  has  secured,  showing  its  resemblance  to  the  breed  of 
to-day,  was  by  Culley  in  1789,  who  comments  on  the  introduc- 
tion into  England  of  French  or  Alderney  cattle,  to  ornament  the 
grounds  of  the  nobility  and  gentry  and  to  provide  rich  milk.  The 
term  "Alderney  "  thus  used  applied  to  any  of  the  Channel  Island 
cattle,  and  the  use  of  this  word  in  America  for  many  years  was 
no  doubt  due  to  the  English  inheritance. 

The  protection  of  the  purity  of  cattle  on  Jersey  dates  back  into 
early  colonial  times.  The  value  of  preserving  the  character  of 
the  breed  was  recognized  as  early  as  1763,  when  laws  were  passed 
by  the  legislature  of  Jersey  prohibiting  the  importing  of  cattle 
from  France  to  the  island.  In  1789  an  act  was  passed  making 
it  a  severe  crime,  heavily  punishable,  to  bring  any  cattle  to 
Jersey  from  France,  excepting  for  immediate  slaughter.  Gradu- 
ally other  restrictions  were  added  to  prevent  cattle  coming  to 
Jersey  from  any  other  country,  excepting  for  slaughter  within 
twenty-four  hours. 

The  improvement  of  the  old  Jersey  type  really  began  in  a 
general  movement  on  the  part  of  the  islanders.  In  1833  the 
Royal  Jersey  Agricultural  Society  was  organized,  with  the  view 
among  other  things  of  improving  the  cattle.  In  1834  the  society 
originated  a  score  card  for  Jerseys,  amounting  to  twenty-five  points 
for  the  bull  and  twenty-seven  for  the  cow.  This  card  was  used 
at  the  first  show  of  cattle  on  the  island,  which  also  was  held  in 
1834.  Comments  by  the  judges  were  that  the  cattle  were  poor 
of  shape,  had  bad  udders,  some  females  had  short,  bull  necks, 
were  heavy  in  shoulder,  etc.  The  application  of  the  score  card, 
which  was  revised  in  1838,  1849,  l$$l>  anc*  1858,  was  enforced, 
and  the  cattle  of  the  island  gradually  and  rapidly  improved.  This 
work  was  due  to  the  joint  efforts  of  the  members  of  the  agricul- 
tural society,  though  Colonel  Le  Couteur  was  a  leader  in  this 
movement  on  the  island.    The  practice  of  selection  was  followed 


THE  JERSEY  251 

with  much  care,  and  the  breeders  constantly  sacrificed  to  the 
butcher  animals  of  inferior  quality  and  value. 

The  improvement  of  the  Jersey  in  England  had  some  bearing 
on  the  general  development  of  the  breed.  Many  herds  had  been 
formed  in  England,  that  of  Lord  Braybrooke  in  Essex  county,  dat- 
ing back  to  181 1,  being  still  in  existence  in  1880  when  the  first 
volume  of  the  English  herdbook  appeared.  About  1821  Philip 
Dauncey  of  Horwood,  Buckingham  county,  purchased  his  first 


Fig.  106.  King  of  St.  Lambert's  King  30752,  long  the  leading  sire  in  the  herd 
of  F.  M.  Hart,  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Among  American-bred  Jerseys  this  is 
a  notable  sire,  having  up  to  1906  some  forty-five  daughters,  each  with  a 
reported  test  of  fourteen  or  more  pounds  of  butter  in  seven  days.  Photo- 
graph by  the  author.  The  camera  being  somewhat  nearer  the  head  than 
hind  quarters  shows  the  front  slightly  out  of  proportion  to  the  hind  part 

Jersey,  and  later  became  England's  most  celebrated  breeder.  He 
developed  a  remarkable  herd  and  it  is  stated  that  he  eventually 
maintained  a  dairy  of  50  Jersey  cows  which  netted  him  an  annual 
profit  of  $100  each  from  sales  of  butter.  His  cows  produced 
large  yields  of  butter  and  greatly  advertised  the  merits  of  the 
breed.  The  herd  was  dispersed  in  1867  when  90  head  averaged 
something  over  $200  each.  Cattle  from  this  herd  were  sold 
to  go  to  different  parts  of  England,   Germany,  Australia,  and 


252  CATTLE 

Tasmania.  Dauncey  bred  with  three  objects  in  view  :  first,  a  large 
average  butter  record  ;  second,  constitution  ;  third,  uniform  color, 
free  from  white.  In  1826  he  bought  the  bull  Pope  652  on  the 
island,  which  greatly  improved  his  herd.  Dauncey  bred  the  bull 
Rioter  746  E,  whose  grandson  Stoke  Pogis  1269  became  pro- 
genitor in  America  of  the  St.  Lambert  family. 

The  importation  of  Jerseys  to  America  dates  back  well  into  the 
nineteenth  century.  As  far  back  as  18 18  Reuben  Haines  of 
Germantown,  Pennsylvania,  imported  a  pair  of  cattle  from  the 
island  of  Alderney,  but  no  definite  importation  from  the  island 
of  Jersey  seems  recorded  prior  to  1850,  when  Messrs.  Taintor, 
Buck,  Norton,  and  other  gentlemen  near  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
brought  over  in  the  ship  Splendid  the  first  from  the  island  to  be 
registered  in  the  American  herdbook.  The  bull  Splendens  16  is 
probably  the  first  registered  Island-bred  bull  brought  to  this  coun- 
try. In  1 85 1  and  1855  other  importations  were  taken  to  Connecti- 
cut, including  some  animals  that  later  became  famous,  notably  the 
bulls  Splendid  2,  St.  Helier45,  Rob  Roy  17,  and  Pierrot  636  ;  and 
the  cows  Dot  7,  Pansy  8,  Jessie  28,  and  the  Ives  cow.  In  185  1 
Thomas  Motley  imported  for  the  Massachusetts  Society  for  Pro- 
moting Agriculture,  bringing  over  among  other  cows  Flora  1 1 3  and 
Countess  114.  From  1850  importations  became  frequent.  The 
dates  of  the  introduction  of  the  Jersey  into  some  other  localities 
are  as  follows:  Maryland,  185  1  ;  New  York  and  Pennsylvania, 
1855  ;  Ohio,  1865  ;  Canada,  1868.  Many  importations  have  been 
made  in  the  last  half  century,  yet  none  of  these  have  been  so 
extensive  or  important  as  the  annual  importations  of  Mr.  T.  S. 
Cooper  of  Pennsylvania,  beginning  in  1900.  In  recent  years 
F.  S.  Peer  of  New  York  has  also  brought  over  many  valuable 
cattle  from  the  island  of  Jersey. 

Characteristics  of  the  Jersey.  The  color  is  generally  termed 
fawnlike,  but  is  quite  variable  in  its  shade,  being  yellowish,  red- 
dish, grayish,  brownish,  or  silvery  fawn.  Some  are  described  as 
orange  or  lemon  fawn,  and  others  as  squirrel  gray  or  mulberry 
black.  White  as  a  whole  does  not  occur,  but  white  marks  are 
quite  common,  although  solid  fawn  color  over  the  entire  body  is 
generally  preferred.  Brindle  is  a  rare  color  and  is  objected  to, 
but  does  occur.    The  hair  about  the  muzzle  and  eyes  is  usually 


THE  JERSEY 


253 


of  a  light  creamy  or  grayish  shade.  In  registering  Jerseys  it  is 
necessary  to  specify  whether  the  tongue  is  white  or  black,  or  the 
switch  white  or  black,  these  being  identification  marks.  Where 
color  is  made  a  point  of  importance  in  the  breeding  of  a  herd,  a 
dark  fawn,  shading  to  light  along  the  backbone  and  the  lower 
limbs,  meets  with  much  favor,  though  solid  colors  of  light  fawn 
also  are  very  popular.  The  most  experienced  and  able  breeders  do 
not  place  primary  emphasis  on  color,  always  making  it  secondary 


Fig.  107.  Eminent  69631,  imported  by  T.  S.  Cooper  &  Sons  from  the  island 
of  Jersey.  Sold  at  the  Cooper  auction  in  1905  for  $10,000,  to  George  E. 
Peer  of  New  York,  who  soon  after  sold  him  to  A.  M.  Bowman  of  Vir- 
ginia for  the  reported  price  of  $12,000.  This  bull  is  noted  as  a  sire  and 
show  animal.    Photograph  from  Mr.  Cooper 

to  the  more  important  features,  color  being  a  fancy  point  and 
of  no  intrinsic  value.  In  conformation  the  Jersey  is  lean  and 
muscular,  the  general  outline  representing  the  dairy  type.  The 
head  is  lean,  should  be  fairly  short,  broad  between  the  eyes  and 
muzzle,  with  some  dish  of  face,  and  with  deep,  strong  lower  jaw. 
The  horns  vary  in  style,  but  those  of  the  bull  should  be  short 
and  strong,  curving  around  forward  and  upward  and  slightly 
inward,  while  those  of  the  cow  should  be  smaller  and  perhaps 
longer,  with  more  curve.     A  white  or  amber-colored  horn  with 


254 


CATTLE 


blackish  tip  is  the  most  approved  sort.  The  more  yellow  the 
horn  the  greater  the  indication,  some  think,  of  rich  milk  produc- 
tion. The  skin  secretions  are  usually  quite  yellow,  and,  as  seen 
in  the  ear,  at  tip  of  tail,  and  about  the  udder,  indicate  something 
of  the  richness  of  the  milk.  The  skin  itself  with  the  Jersey 
should  be  thin,  very  elastic,  and  mellow,  with  a  fine  thick  coat  of 
hair.  The  chest  should  be  deep  and  of  moderate  thickness.  Too 
many  cattle  of  this  breed  are  thin-chested  and  lack  spring  of  front 


Fig.  108.  Merry  Maiden's  3d  Son  60516.  Sired  by  Brown  Bessie's  Son  34550 
and  out  of  Merry  Maiden  64949.  Grand  champion  Jersey  male  at  the 
Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Bred  by  Hood  Farm,  Lowell, 
Massachusetts,  and  owned  by  H.  C.  Taylor,  Orfordville,  Wisconsin. 
Photograph  by  the  author 

rib,  a  common  criticism.  The  back  should  be  strong  and  well 
supported  with  little  if  any  droop,  the  ribs  well  sprung  and  long, 
the  whole  body  showing  large  comparative  size  and  digestive 
capacity.  The  hips  should  be  fairly  broad  in  the  cow,  but  not 
in  the  bull,  the  rump  long,  broad,  and  level,  the  thighs  thin  and 
muscular  and  set  wide  apart,  the  hocks  and  hind  feet  carried 
straight  and  with  ample  room  to  allow  a  large  udder  between. 
The  Jersey  udder  is  usually  very  mellow  and  milks  out  well,  but 
is  frequently  criticised  for  its  small  size  as  well  as  small  teats. 


THE  JERSEY 


255 


There  are  many  beautiful  udders  of  great  capacity  in  this  breed, 
but  the  abbreviated,  elevated  fore  udder  is  far  too  common  in 
many  herds.  The  milk  veins  no  doubt  attain  as  great  relative  size 
and  prominence  with  this  breed  as  any,  often  being  very  tortuous 
or  winding  in  form,  large,  long,  and  passing  into  large  wells. 

The  size  of  the  Jersey  may  be  classed  as  small  to  medium. 
Cows  in  herds  range  from  650  pounds  upward,  850  probably 
being  a  fair  average.  The  cow  Nabritza  5820  even  attained  a 
weight  of  1650  pounds.  From  correspondence  with  a  score  of 
the  leading  American  breeders  the  author  has  secured  many 
weights  of  individual 
males  and  females.  The 
average  weight  of  18  ma- 
ture cows  in  the  herd  of 
F.  H.  Scribner  of  Wis- 
consin was  1006  pounds, 
ranging  from  900  to  1 1 2  5 . 
Of  105  cows  in  eight  herds 
but  one  weighed  under 
700  pounds,  1 1  weighed 
between  700  and  799,  35 
between  800  and  899,  34 
from  900  to  999,  and  19 
from  1000  pounds  up. 
Eighteen  bulls,  heads  of  herds,  ranged  in  weight  from  1040  to 
1790  pounds,  the  average  being  14 15  pounds.  In  general,  a 
weight  of  1300  pounds  is  desirable  in  the  mature  Jersey  male. 
As  a  rule  those  of  the  St.  Lambert  family  represent  a  larger  type 
than  those  of  other  families.  The  average  weight  of  24  Jersey 
cows  at  the  Columbian  Exposition  in  1893  was  922 \  pounds. 

The  Jersey  as  a  milk-fat  producer  is  justly  famous.  An  impor- 
tant feature  in  connection  with  Jersey  milk  is  that  the  fat  globules 
are  comparatively  large  and  the  cream  rises  or  separates  easily. 
The  value  of  Jersey  milk  for  producing  superior  butter  was 
recognized  over  a  century  ago  in  England,  and  first  attracted 
Dauncey  to  the  breed.  Many  fine  records  have  been  made  in 
England  and  on  the  island  of  Jersey,  but  America  has  led  in  the 
testing  of  this  breed.    In  1853  the  first  Jersey  butter  test  was 


Fig.  109.  Venture's  Lad  52300,  a  beautiful  and 
noted  Jersey  bull  of  the  1898  and  1899  fairs. 
Bred  and  shown  by  J.  E.  Robbins  of  Indiana. 
Photograph  by  the  author 


256 


CATTLE 


made  in  this  country,  Thomas  Motley  of  Massachusetts  testing 
the  cow  Flora  1 13,  when,  as  a  three-year-old,  14  pounds  8  ounces 
of  butter  was  made  in  seven  days  from  her  milk.  The  same  year 
the  cow  Rose  240  yielded  17  pounds  in  seven  days.  From  this 
time  thousands  of  seven-day  tests  have  been  made  of  Jersey 
cows,  showing  records  ranging  from  14  pounds  of  churned, 
salted,  and  worked  butter  up  to  that  of  Princess  2d  8046, 
reported  to  have  made  an  official  test  of  46  pounds  I2i  ounces 
in  one  week  in  188  5.  The  testing  of  Jerseys  for  butter  production 
became  so  extensive  that  Major  Campbell  Brown  of  Tennessee 
and  others  collated  and  published  two  volumes  of  such  tests,  and 
later  in  1890  the  American  Jersey  Cattle  Club  took  up  this  work 
officially.  Several  thousand  records  have  been  published  by  the 
club  in  book  form.  Many  of  these  records  were  so  high  as  to  cause 
suspicion  of  the  integrity  of  the  testing,  which  finally  resulted  in 
the  club  providing  for  butter-fat  tests  as  well  as  churn  tests,  to  be 
supervised  by  experiment  station  or  agricultural  college  officials. 
The  following  are  some  of  the  noteworthy  private  records  : 


Notable  Private  Jersey  Butter  Records 


Name  of  Cow 


Oxford  Kate  13646 

Mary  Anne  of  St.  Lambert  9770 
Little  Goldie  36671       .... 
Oonan  of  Riverside  69773     .     . 

Exile's  Belle  40524 

Ethleel  2d  32291 

Massey  Polo  67010 

Ida  of  St.  Lambert  24990  .  . 
Signal's  Lily  Flagg  31035  .  . 
Bisson's  Belle  31 144     .     .     .     . 

Eurotissima  29668 

Landseer's  Fancy  2876     .     .     . 
Mary  Anne  of  St.  Lambert  9770 
Eurotas  2454 


Record 


39 

36 

34 

34 

32 

30 

30 

30 

1047 

1028 

945 

936 

867 

778 


lb.  12 

"  1 2 .1 

"  1 2 .] 

"  3 

"  7 

"  15 

"  6j 

"  z\ 

\ 

"  15 

"  9 

"  145 

"  Mi 

"  1 


Duration 


7  days 

7  " 

7  " 

7  " 

7  " 

7  " 

7  " 

7  " 

365  " 

365  " 

365  " 

365  " 

365  " 

365  " 


Year  of 
Test 


1885 
1884 
1892 

1895 
1891 
1885 
1894 
1884 
1891-1892 

i 888-1 889 
1886-1887 
1885-1886 
1 883-1 884 
1879-1880 


Since  1893,  when  the  Jersey  breed  took  official  part  in  the 
dairy-breed  competition  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition, 


THE  JERSEY  257 

when  disinterested  persons  supervised  the  tests,  such  large 
private  tests  have  not  been  reported.  Unquestionably  many 
Jersey  cows  will  yield  from  14  to  17  pounds  of  butter  in  a 
week,  while  a  few  may  pass  20  pounds.  The  best  record  made 
in  a  week  at  the  Columbian  was  by  the  cow  Brown  Bessie 
74997,  of  20.163  pounds;  in  30  consecutive  days  her  yield 
was  77.319   pounds.      In  the  Columbian   Exposition  tests   the 


Fig.  1 10.  Mary  Anne  of  St.  Lambert  9770,  classed  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
Jersey  cows  of  her  time.  The  property  of  Valancey  E.  Fuller,  then  of 
Canada,  she  had  a  private  record  of  867  pounds  14I  ounces  butter  in  365 
days.     Photograph  by  Schreiber 

Jerseys  excelled  both  Guernsey  and  Shorthorn  in  butter-fat  pro- 
duction. In  the  Pan-American  Exposition  in  1901  the  Jerseys 
stood  second  among  ten  breeds  in  profitable  fat  production,  the 
Guernseys  leading.  In  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  the 
Jerseys  surpassed  the  Holstein-Friesian  and  Brown  Swiss  in 
butter  and  cost  of  production,  the  average  cost  per  pound  being 
io£  cents  for  the  Jersey,  1 3^  for  the  Holstein,  and  14!  for  the 
Brown  Swiss.  In  90  days  in  this  test  the  Jersey  cow  Loretta 
D.  141708  produced  280.16  pounds  butter  fat  at  a  net  profit  of 


253 


CATTLE 


$50.52.  A  fair  grade  of  Jersey  milk  will  contain  at  least  4.5  per 
cent  fat  and  commonly  averages  more. 

The  Jersey  as  a  producer  of  quantity  of  milk,  as  a  rule  does  not 
stand  high.  However,  many  records  show  the  ability  of  cows  of 
the  breed  to  produce  large  quantities.  It  is  not  unusual  for  a 
Jersey  to  produce  5000  pounds  of  milk  a  year.  In  the  90-day 
test  at  the  Columbian  Exposition  the  25  Jersey  cows  in  the 
trial,  including  sick  ones,  averaged  33  pounds  of  milk  daily, 
while  in  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  test  the  same  number 
of  cows  for  the  same  period  of  time  averaged  41^  pounds  milk 
per  day.    The  latter  is  really  a  remarkable  showing. 

Some  notable  milk  records  of  Jerseys  have  been  published, 
among  which  are  the  following : 

Notable  Private  Jersey  Milk  Records 


Name  of  Cow- 

Yield  of  Milk 

Time 

Year 
Produced 

Gertie  of  Glynllyn  74474 

La  Petite  Mere  2d  12810 

Matilda  4th  12816 

Oneida  42100 

16,780  lb.     3  oz. 
16,699  "      8  " 
16,153  "    12  " 
12,734  "    11   » 
11,784  "      2  " 
10,979  "    IO  " 
10,954  »   —  " 
10,487  "    12  " 
2,005  "      4  " 
75  "    12  " 

i  year 

1     " 
1     " 
1     " 
1     " 
1     " 
1     " 
1     " 
31  days 
1  day 

I 898-I 899 
1885-1886 
1885-1886 
1896-1897 
1895-1896 

1891-1892 

Kathletta's  Fancy  60738 

Miss  Helen  Brice  88340 

Signal's  Lily  Flagg  31035 

Merry  Maiden  64949 

Adelaide  of  St.  Lambert  73652       .     . 
Adelaide  of  St.  Lambert  73652       .     . 

Jersey  milk  for  cheese  making  ranks  very  high.  The  demonstra- 
tion at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  made  clear  that  milk 
rich  in  butter  fat  made  more  valuable  and  better  cheese  than 
milk  inferior  in  butter  fat.  In  the  Exposition  cheese  test  the 
following  records  were  secured  in  a  15  days'  test : 


Jersey  .  . 
Guernsey  . 
Shorthorn  . 


Amount 
Cheese 


1451.76  lb. 
1130.62  " 
1077.60   " 


Value 


;i93.9« 

135-22 

140.14 


Cost 


#98.14 
76.25 

99-36 


Value 
Pound 


#0.131 

.12 
•13 


Amount  Milk 

per  Pound 

Cheese 


9.16  lb. 

9.67    " 

11.31    " 


THE  JERSEY 


259 


This  record  clearly  shows  that  Jersey  milk  holds  a  high  place  in 
cheese  production.  This  breed,  however,  finds  its  most  important 
use  in  butter  making  or  in  the  retail  milk  trade,  and  comparatively 
little  of  this  milk  is  made  into  cheese. 

The  Jersey  in  crossing  or  grading  may  be  used  to  great  advan- 
tage, at  least  in  the  latter  way.  There  are  many  high-grade 
Jersey  herds  in  the  country  that  are  very  profitable  producers  of 
butter  and  milk.  If  bulls  of  proper  breeding  and  individual  merit 
are  used  on  native  cows,  very  superior  dairy  herds  should  result. 


Fig.  hi.  Silver  Sheen  26210,  a  noted  prize-winning  Jersey  cow  of  1893  an<i 
1894,  shown  by  the  late  A.  T.  Dempsey,  Columbus,  Ohio.  Silver  Sheen 
was  the  dam  of  Silverine  Coomassie  55600,  prominent  as  a  sire  and 
show  bull  in  the  herd  of  J.  E.  Robbins  of  Indiana.  Photograph  from 
Colonel  Dempsey 

The  Jersey  as  a  beef  producer  is  not  worthy  of  serious  con- 
sideration. The  meat  is  rich  in  quality  and  fine  of  grain,  but  is 
too  yellow  in  fat  coloring  to  suit  butchers.  Jersey  steers  will 
lay  on  flesh  fairly  well,  but  do  not  dress  out  well  in  slaughtering, 
having  more  offal  and  internal  fat  than  the  distinctive  beef 
breeds.  In  a  breed-feeding  experiment  for  beef  at  the  Michigan 
Agricultural  College  the  Jersey  steer  Roscoe  at  1161  days 
weighed  1490  pounds,  showing  a  daily  gain   of  1.28  pound  and 


260 


CATTLE 


dressed  out  59.4  per  cent,  compared  with  a  Shorthorn  which 
dressed  out  66.8  per  cent.  Of  six  breeds  tested  the  Jersey  made 
the  poorest  showing.  Three  Jersey  steers  fed  by  two  experiment 
stations  reported  on  by  Henry  in  Feeds  and  Feeding,  showed 
an  average  daily  gain  for  1058  days  of  1.36  pound  per  day,  rank- 
ing ninth  among  eleven  breeds  in  daily  gain,  but  standing  last  in 
per  cent  of  dressed  weight.  In  a  steer-feeding  experiment  con- 
ducted by  the  Iowa  station  with  nine  breeds,  the  valuation  placed 


Fig.  112.  Figgis  76106.  This  remarkable  Jersey  cow,  at  13  years  of  age,  won 
the  grand  championship  of  the  breed  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposi- 
tion, 1904,  in  very  strong  competition;  shown  by  Hood  Farm,  Lowell, 
Mass.  Figgis  has  a  day's  record  of  50  pounds  7  ounces  of  milk,  and 
of  19  pounds  15  ounces  butter  in  seven  days.    Photograph  by  the  author 

on  the  Jersey  carcass  by  Chicago  experts  was  $4.50  a  hundred, 
the  lowest  of  the  nine,  compared  with  $6.62^  for  the  Hereford. 
Jersey  families  of  distinction  in  America  date  back  now  almost 
fifty  years.  Among  these  families  the  following  ten  may  be 
regarded  as  leading  ones.  Signal,  descended  from  Pansy  8  ; 
Co omassic,  descended  from  Coomassie  1 1874  ;  Eitrotas,  descended 
from  Eurotas  2454  ;  Tormentor,  descended  from  Angela  F.  1607 
J.H.B. ;    St.  Lambert,  descended  from  Stoke  Pogis  1259  out  of 


THE  JERSEY  261 

Essay  ;  Golden  Lad,  descended  from  Sultana,  P.  7.  H.C.  ;  Com- 
bination, descended  from  Lady  Mel  429  ;  Fontaine,  descended 
from  Fontaine,  F.  2058  C.  ;  Oxford,  descended  from  Oxford 
Daisy,  F.  6816  H.C;  and  Landseer,  descended  from  Land- 
seer's  Fancy  2876.    There  are  also  others  of  equal  note. 

Jersey  bulls  siring  tested  daughters  number  a  long  list.  Among 
those  who  have  been  the  most  prolific  sires  may  be  mentioned 
the  following  ten:  Exile  of  St.  Lambert  13657,  St.  Lambert 
Boy  17408,  King  of  St.  Lambert's  King  30752,  Ida's  Rioter 
of  St.  Lambert  13656,  King  of  St.  Lambert  15  175,  Pedro  3187, 
Diploma  162 19,  Tormentor  3533  (imp.),  Fancy's  Harry  9777, 
and  Stoke  Pogis  3d  2238.    Each  of  these  bulls  is  reported  to 


Fig.  113.  Exile's  Sappho  1 14262,  on  the  left,  butter  test  25  pounds  6  ounces  in 
seven  days,  and  Exile's  Pomona  1 1 1 106  on  the  right,  butter  test  17  pounds 
in  seven  days.  These  two  cows,  owned  by  F.  M.  Hart,  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
were  sired  by  Exile  of  St.  Lambert  13657.    Photograph  by  the  author 

have  sired  over  25  daughters  that  have  made  14  or  more  pounds 
of  butter  in  seven  days,  Exile  of  St.  Lambert  being  credited 
with  over  90. 

Prices  for  Jersey  cattle  range  from  such  as  might  be  expected 
for  common  stock  of  any  breed  to  those  of  very  high  character. 
Mr.  T.  S.  Cooper  of  Pennsylvania  paid  $10,000  for  Pedro  3187 
at  private  sale.  Eminent  69631  was  sold  at  the  auction  sale  of 
T.  S.  Cooper  &  Sons,  May  30,  1905,  for  $10,000  to  G.  E. 
Peer  of  New  York,  and  soon  after  changed  hands  at  private  sale 
at  an  advance  over  this,  going  to  A.  M.  Bowman  of  Virginia. 
In  1902,  at  the  Cooper  sale,  Champion  Flying  Fox  61 441  was 
purchased  by  T.  W.  Lawson  of  Massachusetts  for  $7500.    The 


262  CATTLE 

cow  Imported  Blue  Belle  180234,  in  May,  1904,  sold  at  the 
Cooper  sale  at  fourteen  years  of  age  at  $3600  to  Gedney  Farm. 
At  the  1905  sale  of  Cooper  &  Sons  103  head  of  imported 
Jerseys  brought  $63,120,  an  average  of  $621.55  each,  the 
highest  record  in  a  score  of  years.  These  represent  the  highest 
Jersey  prices,  though  many  range  above  $1000. 

Early  maturity  of  the  Jersey  is  more  marked  than  with  any 
other  common  breed  of  cattle.  Repeated  cases  are  on  record  of 
Jersey  females,  through  accident,  having  the  first  calf  before 
365  days  old.  Both  males  and  females  develop  rapidly  and  are 
often  in  service  too  early  for  the  good  of  the  herd  or  breed. 
Occasionally  one  will  find  a  herd  of  Jerseys,  where  the  owner 
has  bred  the  heifers  to  come  fresh  at  eighteen  to  twenty  months 
old.  In  these  herds  one  is  impressed  by  the  small  size  and 
runty  appearance  of  the  cows.  The  wiser  and  more  thoughtful 
breeders  of  to-day  plan  to  have  their  heifers  come  fresh  about 
thirty  months  old,  depending  somewhat  upon  the  vigor  and  size 
of  the  animals  to  be  bred.  A  greater  vitality  and  producing 
capacity  is  thus  secured. 

The  ability  of  Jerseys  to  reproduce  ranks  high,  as  is  the  case 
with  all  dairy  breeds.  Many  males  have  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age 
and  been  in  constant  herd  service.  The  bull  Pedro  was  in  active 
service  until  nearly  twenty  years  old,  St.  Lambert  Boy  was  used 
until  he  was  fourteen,  and  King  of  St.  Lambert's  King  at  fifteen 
is  yet  in  active  service,  while  numerous  other  similar  instances 
could  be  cited.  There  are  also  many  vigorous  old  cows  of  the 
breed,  and  these  may  be  frequently  seen  in  Jersey  herds.  Fig- 
gis, the  champion  cow  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition, 
was  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  Marjoram  2d,  at  sixteen  years  of 
age,  was  sixth  in  the  aged  cow  class  at  the  World's  Columbian 
Exposition.  Merry  Maiden,  Brown  Bessie,  and  Miss  Helen 
Brice,  all  famous  cows,  lived  long,  useful  lives.  Many  Jersey 
cows  are  in  their  greatest  usefulness  at  ten  to  twelve  years  old. 

The  distribution  of  the  Jersey  is  world-wide.  Prominent  herds 
are  found  in  various  parts  of  England,  France,  Canada,  all  over 
the  United  States,  in  Australia,  and  elsewhere.  The  breed  seems 
adaptable  to  a  wide  range  of  conditions,  and  famous  herds  have 
been  developed  in  Canada  and  the  New  England  states,  where 


THE  JERSEY  263 

the  winters  are  severe,  in  the  milder  Mississippi  Valley,  and  in 
the  warm  south  and  southwest.  The  Jersey  is  the  most  popular 
and  common  of  the  dairy  breeds  in  America. 

Organizations  for  promoting  Jersey  cattle  have  long  existed  in 
America  and  on  Jersey  Island.  The  Royal  Jersey  Agricultural 
Society,  founded  in  1833,  assumed  supervision  of  the  breed  on 
the  island,  and  in  1866  published  the  first  island  herdbook,  since 
which  fifteen  volumes  have  been  issued  to  1905.  The  American 
Jersey  Herdbook,  published  under  the  direction  of  the  Associa- 
tion of  Breeders  of  Thoroughbred  Neat  Stock,  with  headquarters 
in  Massachusetts,  was  the  first  organization  to  promote  Jersey 
interests  in  America,  and  published  six  herdbooks,  the  last  ap- 
pearing in  1878.  The  English  Jersey  Cattle  Society  was  organ- 
ized in  the  seventies,  and  up  to  1905  had  published  sixteen 
volumes.  The  Maine  State  Pure  Blood  Jersey  Cattle  Associa- 
tion, chartered  in  1875,  published  its  first  herdbook  in  1876  and 
Vol.  VIII  in  1898.  The  American  Jersey  Cattle  Club  was  organ- 
ized in  1868,  and  in  1871  published  its  first  volume,  since  which 
time,  up  to  January,  1906,  some  sixty  volumes  have  been  issued, 
registering  nearly  200,000  head.  In  1903  the  New  Zealand  Jersey 
Cattle  Breeders'  Association  published  their  first  herdbook. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

THE  HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN 

The  native  home  of  Holstein-Friesian  cattle  is  Holland.  While 
the  breed  as  we  know  it  in  America  seems  abundant  all  over 
Holland,  it  is  most  common  in  north  Holland  in  the  provinces 
of  Friesland  and  Drenthe.  There  are  several  recognized  breeds 
of  Dutch  cattle,  but  the  large  black  and  white  one  is  the  leading 
dairy  breed,  and  meets  with  favor  in  northwestern  Germany  and 
Belgium,  where  it  is  extensively  kept.  Holland  is  a  country 
mainly  reclaimed  from  the  sea,  and  much  of  the  land  lies  below 
sea  level,  the  water  being  held  back  by  dikes.  The  soil  is  very 
fertile  in  some  places  and  very  poor  in  others.  Much  of  the  land 
is  in  meadows,  separated  into  farms  and  pastures  by  canals. 
The  climate  is  cold  in  winter,  but  the  nearness  to  the  sea  breaks 
its  intensity  and  furnishes  satisfactory  conditions  for  cattle  the 
year  round. 

The  origin  of  Holstein-Friesian  cattle  is  obscure.  It  has  been 
claimed  that  for  over  a  thousand  years  the  people  of  Holland 
have  kept  them  and  have  been  famous  for  the  production 
of  milk,  butter,  and  cheese.  It  has  been  assumed  that  these 
cattle  are  descended  from  the  prehistoric  Giant  Ox  (Bos  primi- 
genus).  Early  writings  refer  to  Dutch  cattle  as  being  large, 
more  or  less  white  in  color,  and  great  milk  producers.  Undoubt- 
edly the  present  type  of  black  and  white  dairy  cattle  of  Holland 
has  long  existed  there. 

The  origin  of  the  name  Holstein-Friesian  becomes  pertinent  at 
this  point.  A  quarter  of  a  century  ago  cattle  were  brought  to 
this  country  under  the  names  of  Holstein  and  Dutch  Friesian, 
being  sold  as  different  breeds  and  championed  by  different  breed- 
ing associations.  The  name  Holstein  has  no  application  in  Hol- 
land, but  refers  to  a  small  province  in  Germany,  between  the 
Baltic  and  North  seas,  about  a  hundred  miles  east  of  the  Holland 

264 


THE  HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN  265 

boundary,  where  black  and  white  Dutch  cattle  are  found.  The 
word  Friesian  is  derived  from  Friesland  province,  Holland,  and 
this  is  the  name  the  breed  should  go  by  in  America,  as  it  does 
in  Holland,  for  no  such  breed  name  as  Holstein-Friesian  is  used 
in  the  latter  country.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  all  the  cattle 
imported  to  America  from  Holland  are  essentially  the  same,  the 
breeders  and  importers  finally  came  together  and  united  their 
interests  and  agreed  to  call  the  breed  Holstein-Friesian.  If  the 
word  Holstein  could  by  agreement  be  discarded,  it  would  give  a 
more  appropriate  and  simpler  name. 

The  introduction  of  the  Holstein-Friesian  to  America  is  unques- 
tionably associated  with  the  early  Dutch  settlers  of  New  York. 


Fig.  1 14.    A  view  on  the  meadows  of  Holland  near  Rotterdam 
Photograph  by  the  author 

Black  or  black  and  white  cattle  for  two  centuries  have  been  owned 
in  New  England  and  the  east,  where  they  have  been  known  as 
Dutch  cattle.  Late  in  the  seventeenth  century,  when  the  Mohawk 
Valley  of  New  York  was  settled  by  the  Dutch,  they  probably 
brought  cattle  with  them  from  Holland.  In  1795  the  Holland 
Land  Company  sent  two  bulls  and  six  cows  to  John  Lincklaen 
of  Cazenovia,  New  York,  who  was  an  agent  in  charge  of  lands  of 
the  company  there.  Descriptions  would  indicate  these  to  be  much 
of  the  type  of  to-day.  In  1 8 10  a  bull  and  two  cows  were  imported 
by  Consul  William  Jarvis  and  taken  to  his  farm  at  Weathersfield, 
Vermont.  About  1825  Herman  Le  Roy  made  an  importation,  part 
being  taken  to  the  Genesee  Valley,  New  York,  and  the  rest  kept 


266  CATTLE 

near  New  York  City.  A  later  importation  was  made  to  Delaware. 
Honorable  W.  W.  Chenery  of  Belmont,  Massachusetts,  imported 
one  cow  in  185  i,  and  in  1857  and  1859  tw0  more,  which  were 
destroyed  by  the  government,  owing  to  pleuro-pneumonia ;  but 


Fig.  115.  Sarcastic  Lad  23971,  grand-champion  Holstein-Friesian  bull  at  the 
Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904,  and  sire  of  a  number  of  daughters 
in  the  Holstein-Friesian  advanced  registry.  Owned  by  Illinois  University. 
Photograph  by  the  author 

in  1 86 1  he  made  another  importation  which  became  a  perma- 
nent herd.  In  1867  Gerrit  S.  Miller  of  Peterboro,  New  York, 
secured  cattle  from  Holland.  Beginning  with  the  early  seven- 
ties, cattle  were  imported  in  considerable  numbers  from  Holland 
until  near  the  close  of  the  nineteenth  century,  when  the  trade 
materially  declined. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Holstein-Friesian  are  distinct  and 
peculiar  to  the  breed.  In  general  appearance animals  of  the  breed 
are  large,  often  have  great  udders  and  milk  veins,  are  black  and 
white  in  color,  and  show  remarkable  milk-producing  capacity. 
The  head  is  usually  lean,  tends  to  be  somewhat  long  with  straight 
nose  and  dark  mottled  or  flesh-colored  muzzle,  is  wide  between 
the  eyes,  and  carries  a  white  horn  usually  black  tipped.    The 


THE  HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN  267 

horns  should  be  short,  gradually  taper,  and  curve  out,  forward 
and  inward  and  slightly  upward.  A  coarse  horn  is  not  common. 
The  neck  of  the  male  is  usually  rather  large  with  a  distinct  arch, 
while  that  of  the  female  is  moderately  slender.  The  shoulder  is 
frequently  heavy  and  prominent,  laying  back  in  well,  with  withers 
of  moderate  thickness,  being  neither  fine  nor  thick.  The  body 
is  large  with  long,  well-sprung  ribs,  showing  great  feeding  capa- 
city. The  hips  are  often  prominent,  the  rump  long  and  level,  the 
thighs  inclined  to  be  somewhat  thick  with  more  quarter  than 
obtains  with  other  dairy  breeds.  The  udder  is  frequently  very 
large,  and  with  maturity  shows  a  pendant  form  after  the  shape 
of  a  letter  U,  with  the  teats  placed  at  the  corners  on  the  same. 
With  this  form  the  fore  udder  lacks  extension.    The  milk  veins 


Fig.  116.  Sir  Soldene  Wayne  De  Kol  27171,  Holstein-Friesian  bull.  Owned 
by  the  Ohio  State  University.  Second  prize  in  class  at  the  Pan-American 
Exposition,  1901,  and  frequently  first  prize  and  champion  on  the  1902  fair 
circuit.    Photograph  by  the  author 

average  large,  but  are  not  longer  or  more  crooked  than  in  other 
breeds.  The  color  in  America  is  almost  always  black  and  white 
in  patches,  white  with  some  animals  prevailing,  while  black 
prevails  more  with  others.  In  Holland  red  and  white  animals 
of  the  breed  exist,  and  several  pure-bred  herds  of  the  color  are 


268  CATTLE 

maintained,  to  the  exclusion  of  black  and  white.  In  quality  the 
Holstein-Friesian  is  too  frequently  deficient,  as  exhibited  in  coarse 
hair,  large  joints,  and  thick  skin  lacking  in  mellowness.  In  tem- 
perament  this  compares  favorably  with  other  dairy  breeds. 

The  size  of  the  Holstein-Friesian  places  it  among  the  largest 
breeds  of  cattle.  The  writer  for  many  years  has  recorded  the 
birth  weights  of  calves,  including  six  breeds.  Of  these  the  Hol- 
stein-Friesian has  produced  the  largest,  one  weighing  125  pounds 
the  day  calved.  Mature  bulls  often  weigh  very  heavy.  Kate 
Spray's  Paul  De  Kol,  when  owned  by  the  Ohio  State  University, 
attained  a  weight  of  2600  pounds  and  never  was  fat.  The  bull 
Constantyn  2040  H.H.B.,  when  six  years  old,  weighed  2715 
pounds.  Netherland  Prince  716  H.H.B.,  the  most  famous  bull 
imported  twenty-five  years  ago,  at  eight  years  weighed  2050 
pounds.  A  reasonable  and  moderate  weight  for  the  aged  bull 
ranges  from  1900  to  2000  pounds.  Like  the  males,  the  females 
of  the  breed  sometimes  attain  great  size.  The  cow  Rosa  Bonheur 
5th  1 1227  weighed  as  high  as  1850  pounds  while  owned  by  the 
Michigan  Agricultural  College,  while  Belle  Sarcastic  23039,  owned 
by  the  same  college,  weighed  1900  pounds  when  fat.  These 
cows,  however,  are  extreme  cases.  Among  noted  cows  of  the 
breed  at  maturity  Pietertje  2d  3273  H.H.B.  weighed  1365  pounds; 
DeKol2d  734  H.H.B.,  1240;  Pauline  Paul  2199  H.H.B. ,  1450  ; 
Aaggie90i  H.H.B.,  1375  ;  Echo  121  H.H.B.,  1920;  and  Princess 
of  Wayne  954  H.H.B.,  1370.  For  mature  cows  a  weight  of  1250 
to  1400  is  acceptable,  some  families  tending  to  weigh  heavier  than 
others.  The  average  weight  of  the  cows  five  years  old  or  over 
recorded  in  the  fourth  volume  of  the  advanced  register  is  given 
as  1262  pounds. 

Some  measurements  of  Holstein-Friesian  cows  of  interest  are 
published  by  the  association  promoting  the  breed.  The  average 
measurements  of  cows  in  Vol.  IV  advanced  registry  are  as  follows  : 

Height,  perpendicular,  at  shoulders 51.8  in. 

Height,  perpendicular,  at  hips 53.0  " 

Length  of  body,  extreme  point  shoulder  to  point  rump  64.9  " 
Length  of  rump,  front  hips  to  extreme  point  rump    .     21.4  " 

Width  of  hips 21.9  " 

Girth  of  heart  at  smallest  chest  circumference      .     .     75.6  " 


THE  HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN 


269 


The  Holstein-Friesian  cow  as  a  producer  of  milk,  in  quantity 
leads  all  other  breeds  and  occupies  a  class  by  herself.  Wonder- 
ful records  have  been  reported  during  the  past  twenty-five  years 
in  America,  credited  to  Holstein-Friesian  cows.  A  few  of  the 
leading  private  tests  are  as  follows  : 


Name  of  Co\ 


Yield 


Duration 
Test 


When 

Made 


Pietertje  2d  3273  H.H.B.  .  . 
Princess  of  Wayne  954  H.H.B 
Clothilde  1308  H.H.B.  . 
Echo,  121  H.H.B.  .  .  . 
Belle  Sarcastic  23039 
Howtje  D.  12005  •  •  • 
Rosa  Bonheur  5th  11 227 
Empress  539  H.H.B. 
Pauline  Paul  2199  H.H.B 


30,318  lb. 
29,008  " 
26,021  " 
23>775  " 
21,075  " 
19,025  " 
17,043  " 
19,714  « 
18,699  " 


1  year 
1 
I 
I 
I 
1 

314  days 
1  year 


1885-1886 

1894-1895 
1 894-1 895 
1 894-1895 


In  1 90 1  a  circular  issued  by  the  Holstein-Friesian  Association 
stated  that  7 7  cows  had  been  received  to  advanced  registry  that 
had  produced  from  15,000  to  30,000  pounds  of  milk  in  periods 
of  ten  months  to  one  year.  A  fair  cow  of  the  breed,  when  five 
years  old  or  over,  should  produce  from  7000  to  9000  pounds  of 
milk  a  year  with  proper  feed  and  care. 

Daily  milk  yields  of  Holstein-Friesian  cows  have  been  reported 
up  to  122^  pounds  in  one  day,  this  being  the  largest  yield  reported, 
credited  in  private  test  to  Shadeland  Boon  2d  8892  H.H.B., 
owned  by  Powell  Brothers  of  Pennsylvania.  Many  cows  have 
produced  60  pounds  in  a  day.  In  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Expo- 
sition breed  test  the  15  Holstein-Friesians  for  120  days  averaged 
53.4  pounds  of  milk  each  daily,  compared  with  41.5  for  the 
Jerseys  and  44.2  for  the  Brown  Swiss. 

The  Holstein-Friesian  as  a  butter  producer  takes  high  rank  on 
account  of  the  large  yield  of  milk.  The  milk  is  not  rich  in  butter 
fat,  possessing  an  average  range  of  from  three  to  four  per  cent. 
Some  families  tend  to  produce  a  milk  poor  in  fat,  while  others 
show  a  greater  amount.  The  fat  globules  in  this  milk  rank  in 
the  smaller  class,  and  do   not   cream  by  gravity  so  rapidly  as 


270 


CATTLE 


Jersey  or  Guernsey  milk.  In  total  butter-fat  or  butter  produc- 
tion, however,  large  records  have  been  made.  The  largest  annual 
butter  record  reported  in  any  breed  is  that  of  Pauline  Paul  2199 
H.H.B.,  said  to  have  produced  in  private  test  in  one  year  1153 


Fig.  117.  Jolie  Johanna  36779,  grand-champion  Holstein-Friesian  cow  at  the 
Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  In  the  working  dairy  at  the  expo- 
sition, in  120  days,  this  cow  produced  6630.6  pounds  milk,  yielding 
221.6  pounds  butter  fat.     Photograph  by  the  author 

pounds  15  j  ounces  of  churned  and  salted  butter.  Aaggie  Cornu- 
copia Pauline  48426  holds  the  largest  weekly  Holstein-Friesian 
butter  record,  that  of  34  pounds  5.2  ounces  in  this  time.  She  also 
has  a  one-day  record  of  6  pounds  6h  ounces  of  butter. 

The  immense  yields  of  milk  and  butter  reported  in  private  test 
are  open  to  the  same  objections  as  have  been  raised  against 
those  made  by  other  breeds. 

The  official  testing  of  Holstein-Friesians  by  agricultural  experi- 
ment stations  or  college  supervisors  has  resulted  in  establishing 
a  large  number  of  official  records  worthy  of  credence,  which  show 
something  of  the  ability  of  animals  of  the  breed.  Among  the 
official  weekly  records  based  on  butter-fat  tests,  estimated  to 
80  per  cent  butter  fat,  the  following  are  of  interest  : 


THE  HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN 


271 


Aaggie  Cornucopia  Pauline  48426. 
Mercedes  Julips'  Pietertje  2166.     . 

Beryl  Wayne  1 1 77 

AltaPosch  1882 

Netherland  Hengerveld  1 133      .     . 

De  Kol  2d  412 

Lilith  Pauline  De  Kol  141 5    .     .     . 

Belle  Korndyke  1449 

Mutual  Friend  2d  961 

Susie  De  Kol  1325 ] 

Canary's  Mercedes  11 09  .     .     .     . 

The  largest  record  for  a  two-year-old  is  27  pounds  0.7  ounces, 
estimated  80  per  cent  butter,  from  the  heifer  Alta  Posch  1882. 

In  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  dairy  test  the  average 
per  cent  of  fat  in  the  Holstein-Friesian  milk  in  the  120  days' 
butter  test  was  3.4  per  cent.    In  this  test  the  cows  of  the  Dutch 


Yield 

34  lb. 

5.2  oz.  butter 

a 

29    " 

5-7 

(1 

27    « 

14.0          " 

" 

27    » 

1.2          " 

(I 

26    " 

10.7          « 

<( 

26    " 

9.2 

u 

26    " 

9.6 

(( 

25    « 

12.3          " 

(( 

25    » 

12.2           " 

K 

25    « 

4.9 

a 

25    « 

2.6 

Fig.  118.  Colantha  4th's  Johanna  48577,  a  Holstein-Friesian  cow,  owned  by 
W.  J.  Gillett  &  Son,  Rosendale,  Wisconsin.  In  1901,  in  three-year  age 
this  cow  produced  12,887.7  pounds  milk,  testing  444  pounds  butter  fat. 
Photograph  by  the  author 

breed  made  an  average  of  1 .832  pound  fat  per  day,  or  2.12  pounds 
estimated  butter.  The  Holstein-Friesian  cow  Shadybrook  Gerben 
43753  in  the  120  days  produced  8 10 1.7  pounds  milk,  containing 
282.6  pounds  butter  fat,  the  largest  record  made  by  any  cow  of 
any  breed,  showing  a  net  profit  of  $46.02  over  cost  of  production. 


272  CATTLE 

Holstein-Friesian  milk  for  cheese  is  very  extensively  used  in 
Holland,  where  large  quantities  of  Edam,  Gouda,  and  other 
cheeses  are  made  and  shipped  all  over  the  world.  This  milk 
contains  a  large  percentage  of  solids  not  fat,  and  so  makes  a 
very  nutritious  cheese,  though  its  food  value  would  be  increased 
by  a  greater  percentage  of  fat  in  the  milk. 

Holstein-Friesians  as  beef  producers  do  not  rank  well  in  Amer- 
ica, any  more  than  do  the  other  dairy  breeds.  There  is  too  much 
waste  in  killing,  with  too  much  bone  and  intestinal  fat.    Young 


Fig.  119.  Kate  Spray  5th  67832,  first-prize  Holstein-Friesian  heifer  at 
Ohio  State  Fair  in  1905.  Owned  by  W.  B.  Smith  &  Son,  Colum- 
bus, Ohio.     Photograph  by  the  author 

Holsteins,  however,  make  excellent  veal,  and  the  author  has  rarely 
eaten  veal  in  America  equal  to  that  commonly  served  in  hotels  in 
Holland.  In  valuations  placed  on  Holstein  beef  fed  by  the  Iowa 
Agricultural  College,  experts  rated  it  eighth  among  nine  breeds, 
the  Jersey  coming  last.  Holstein-Friesians  will  gain  in  weight  but 
will  not  produce  the  desired  quality  of  beef  to  suit  the  buyers. 

The  grade  or  cross-bred  Holstein-Friesian  may  be  an  improve- 
ment over  the  dam,  if  a  pure-bred  bull  be  used.  The  wisdom 
of  this  breeding,  however,  depends  on  the  purpose.  If  for 
milk  production,  by  means  of  pure-bred  bulls  a  high-grade,  very 


THE  HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN 


273 


profitable  herd  may  be  produced.  In  the  vicinity  of  large  cities 
are  to  be  found  herds  of  high  grades  that  produce  large  yields 
of  milk  for  the  retail  trade.  By  selecting  sires  coming  from 
families  yielding  milk  superior  in  quality  as  well  as  quantity, 
more  favorable   results    may   be   expected    than   if   no   care   in 


::^fs- 

;-/^ 

PP^^^H 

I  m 

! 

\     \ 

^^^^^^m 

Fig.  120.  The  pure-bred  Holstein-Friesian  ox  Jerry,  owned  by  J.  D.  Avery, 
Buckland,  Massachusetts.  This  ox  is  reported  to  measure  17^  hands  high, 
to  girth  ioi  feet,  and  to  weigh  4365  pounds.  On  a  good  road  he  will  easily 
walk  a  mile  in  30  minutes.    Photograph  from  Mr.  Avery 

selection   is   practiced.     Owing  to   their  size,  the  bulls  should 
not  be  mated  to  animals  of  smaller  breed  type. 

Holstein-Friesian  oxen  are  in  favor  in  some  localities  where 
cattle  are  employed  in  draft  work.  Mr.  James  D.  Avery  of 
Massachusetts,  who  has  long  used  them,  testifies  highly  to  the 
worth  of  the  breed  for  this  purpose.  A  pure-bred  ox  of  his,  named 
Jerry,  at  nine  years  old  weighed  4365  pounds,  stood  17-J-  hands 
high,  was  10  feet  3  inches  in  girth  and  15  feet  11  inches  long. 


274  CATTLE 

The  breeding  power  of  the  Holstein-Friesian  and  maturing  qual- 
ities are  about  average.  The  calves  do  not  mature  as  rapidly  as 
most  of  the  dairy  breeds,  but  stand  well  in  ability  to  reproduce  and 
give  extended  service  in  breeding.  The  heifers  usually  come  into 
milk  at  about  26  to  30  months  old,  though  some  prefer  earlier. 

Among  the  great  breeding  Holstein-Friesian  bulls  special  mention 
should  be  made  of  the  following  as  leading  sires  having  numerous 
officially  tested  daughters  recorded  in  the  advanced  registry:  Aaltje 
Salo  3ds  Tritomia  Netherland  19856,  De  Kol  2ds  Paul  De  Kol 
20735,  Paul  De  Kol  14634,  Paul  Beets  De  Kol  22235,  Aaggie 
Beauty  2d's  Statesman  18 169  and  Hengerveld  De  Kol  23102. 

Each  of  these  bulls  has  sired  a  large  number  of  cows  that  have 
made  tests,  ranging  from  50  with  the  first  listed  to  1 1  with  the  last. 

Holstein-Friesian  families  of  prominence  may  be  mentioned  as 
follows,  though  there  are  others  of  equal  note  :  Aaggie,  descended 
from  Aaggie  901  ;  Netherlands  from  Lady  Netherland  1263  ; 
Clothilde,  from  Clothilde  1308  ;  Johanna,  from  Johanna  142 1  ; 
Wayne,  from  Queen  of  Wayne  955  H.H.B.;  Pauline  Paul,  from 
Pauline  Paul  2 199  H.H.B. ;  De  Kol,  from  De  Kol  2d  734 ;  Schuil- 
ing,  from  Schuiling  3350  ;  and  Pietertje,  from  Pietertje  2d  3273. 
Each  of  these  families  has  many  distinguished  representatives. 

Organizations  for  the  promotion  of  Holstein-Friesian  cattle  first 
developed  in  America.  About  1872  a  number  of  men  in  the 
eastern  United  States,  led  by  W.  W.  Chenery  of  Massachusetts, 
organized  the  Association  of  Breeders  of  Thoroughbred  Llolstein 
Cattle.  In  1872  the  first  volume  of  the  Holstein  herdbook  was 
published.  Nine  volumes  in  all  were  issued,  the  last  appearing  in 
1885.  In  1879  a  number  of  men  who  had  been  importing  and 
breeding  Dutch  cattle,  who  disapproved  of  the  word  Holstein  as 
being  illogical  and  out  of  place,  organized  the  Dutch  Friesian 
Cattle  Breeders'  Association  and  in  1880  published  Volume  I 
of  the  DutcJi  Friesian  Herdbook,  of  which  four  volumes  were 
issued,  the  last  in  1885.  After  more  or  less  friction,  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  each  organization  was  bringing  over  the  same  class 
of  cattle,  a  conference  was  held  in  1885  and  the  two  associations 
amalgamated  under  the  name  of  the  Holstein-Friesian  Associa- 
tion of  North  America.  Since  1885,  up  to  January,  1905,  twenty- 
two  herdbooks  have  been  issued  by  the  combined  association.    In 


THE  HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN 


275 


1875  an  association  was  organized  in  Holland  under  the  name  of 
the  North  Holland  Herdbook  Association.  In  1885  an  American 
branch  of  this  was  organized,  and  Volume  I  of  the  American 
Branch  of  the  North  Holland  Herdbook  was  published  in  1888. 
There  is  also  an  organization  in  Canada,  —  the  Holstein-Friesian 
Association  of  Canada,  founded  in  1891,  which  has  published 
seven  herdbooks  to  1905.  Besides  the  above  the  Holstein- 
Friesian  Association  of  North  America  publishes  an  advanced 
registry,  established  in  1885,  of  cows  that  have  made  official 
butter  tests  under  expert,  impartial  supervision.  This  registry 
also  contains  lists  of  sires  of  tested  cows.  The  first  volume  was 
published  in  1887,  followed  by  three  other  separate  volumes, 
after  which  the  advanced  registry  was  for  a  time  incorporated 
in  the  regular  issue  of  the  herdbook.  In  Volume  I  31  bulls 
and  300  cows  were  registered.  Recently  the  Holstein-Friesian 
records  have  been  published  in  an  annual  yearbook. 

The  distribution  of  Holstein-Friesian  cattle  outside  of  Holland 
is  mainly  in  Belgium,  northern  Germany,  and  parts  of  Russia, 
while  the  breed  is  widely  distributed  over  North  America.  For 
years  important  breeding  herds  have  been  kept  in  New  York 
State,  a  recognized  Holstein-Friesian  center.  Large  herds  are 
also  kept  in  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Wisconsin,  Illinois,  Missouri, 
Michigan,  New  Jersey,  and  Massachusetts.  In  extensive  dairy 
districts  and  near  large  cities  herds  of  this  breed  are  most  com- 
mon. While  not  so  well  suited  to  hot,  dry  climates,  and  to  rough, 
poor  lands,  Holstein-Friesians  seem  to  thrive  over  a  wide  range, 
for  herds  are  successfully  kept  from  California  to  Maine  and  from 
Canada  to  Mexico.  Naturally  abundance  of  food  is  essential  for 
this  large  type  of  cattle. 


Fig.  121.  A  pasture  view  of  the  Holstein-Friesian  herd  of  K.  N.  Kuperus  in 
Holland,  one  of  the  best-known  Dutch  breeders.  Photograph  by  the  author 


CHAPTER    XXXVI 
THE  GUERNSEY 

The  native  home  of  Guernsey  cattle  is  on  the  islands  of  Guern- 
sey and  Alderney,  in  the  Channel  Islands  group,  off  the  coast  of 
France  in  the  English  Channel.  The  island  of  Guernsey,  on  which 
they  are  mainly  bred,  is  triangular  in  form  and  is  about  nine  and 
one  half  miles  long  from  southeast  to  northwest,  and  six  across 
in  the  widest  part.  The  south  coast  is  a  long  cliff,  reaching  a 
height  of  270  feet,  the  land  roughly  sloping  northward  to  a  low 
beach.  There  is  a  population  of  about  35,000  on  the  island,  St. 
Peter  Port  is  the  main  town,  and  the  people  beside  producing 
cattle,  make  a  specialty  of  crops  under  glass,  such  as  grapes, 
tomatoes,  melons,  flowers,  etc.,  for  the  London  market.  Guernsey 
is  second  in  size  to  Jersey,  contains,  with  one  or  two  little 
islands,  12,600  acres,  and  maintains  some  5000  head  of  cattle. 
The  climate  is  most  balmy  the  year  round,  the  island  being  a 
famous  health  resort.  The  cattle  are  kept  in  small  herds,  each 
animal  being  tethered  when  in  pasture,  grazing  systematically 
and  making  careful  use  of  all  food. 

The  origin  of  the  Guernsey,  like  that  of  the  Jersey,  is  quite 
obscure,  but  is  supposed  by  many  to  have  been  derived  from  the 
same  French  ancestry  of  Brittany  and  Normandy  cattle.  It  is 
assumed  that  the  red  color  and  size  of  the  breed  are  derived  from 
the  use  of  bulls  from  Normandy  taken  to  the  island  in  very  early 
times.  Like  the  Jersey,  the  Guernsey  for  many  years  has  been 
protected  at  home  by  the  exclusion  of  all  other  breeds.  Any  live 
cattle  brought  to  the  island,  excepting  from  Alderney,  must  be 
slaughtered  within  twenty-four  hours.  By  a  long-continued 
process  of  selection  a  larger  type  of  cattle  than  Jerseys  has 
been  produced,  yet  these  have  much  in  common  with  that  breed. 

The  systematic  improvement  of  the  Guernsey  was  materially 
promoted  by  the  organization  of  the  Royal  Guernsey  Agricultural 

276 


THE  GUERNSEY  277 

and  Horticultural  Society,  which  sought  to  establish  the  breed 
on  a  uniform  and  high  basis.  Annual  exhibitions  are  held,  the 
cattle  on  the  island  compete,  and  the  best  individuals  are  care- 
fully inspected  and  given  proper  distinction  and  prizes  according 
to  merit. 

The  introduction  of  the  Guernsey  to  America  dates  back  early 
in  the  last  century.  In  1824  Reuben  Haines  of  Germantown, 
Pennsylvania,  wrote  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Pennsylvania  Agri- 
cultural Society  that  he  "  procured  a  pair  of  cattle  of  the  Island 


Fig.  122.    Sheet  Anchor  2934,  a  famous  Guernsey  sire  and  show  bull.    Owned 
by  H.  McKay  Twombly,  Madison,  New  Jersey.    Photograph  by  Schreiber 

of  Alderney"  and  soon  satisfied  himself  that  no  breed  in  the 
country  would  bear  a  comparison  with  them.  These  were 
imported  in  18 18,  and  may  be  regarded  as  Guernseys  in  fact, 
inasmuch  as  cattle  on  the  Alderney  Island  are  to-day  registered 
in  the  island  of  Guernsey  herdbook.  According  to  publications 
of  the  American  Guernsey  Cattle  Club,  cattle  were  brought  to 
America  from  Guernsey  about  1830,  but  concerning  these  no 
special  record  was  made.  About  1850  a  few  were  brought  to 
the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  and  after  1865  more  began  to  be 
imported  to  the  seaboard  states.     About  1865  E.  P.  P.  Fowler 


278 


CATTLE 


and  P.  H.  Fowler  began  importing.  Soon  after  J.  M.  Codman 
of  Boston,  E.  F.  Bowditch  of  South  Framingham,  Massachu- 
setts, and  T.  M.  Harvey  of  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  began 
to  import.  In  1877  a  few  energetic  breeders  came  together  in 
New  York  City  and  organized  the  American  Guernsey  Breeders' 
Association.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  December,  1877,  it  was 
reported  that  193  Guernseys  were  registered  by  the  secretary, 
1 14  of  which  were  imported.  Then  for  years  the  interests  of  the 
breed  met  with  but  slow  growth,  until  about  1893,  when  public 
interest  was  much  excited  by  the  record  made  by  Guernseys  in  the 
dairy  cattle  tests  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago. 


Fig.  123.  Coralette's  Son  3987,  second-prize  aged  Guernsey  bull  at  the  Lou- 
isiana Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  G.  C.  Hill  & 
Son,  Rosendale,  Wisconsin.    Photograph  by  the  author 


Characteristics  of  Guernseys.  In  general  appearaiice the  cattle 
of  this  breed  are  larger  than  Jerseys,  are  coarser  of  style,  show 
more  constitution,  and  have  a  different  shade  of  fawn  color.  The 
color  is  either  yellowish,  brownish,  or  reddish  fawn,  the  latter 
prevailing,  frequently  with  white  markings  or  with  white  on  the 
limbs  or  under  part  of  the  body.  The  muzzle  is  buff  or  flesh 
colored  and  is  surrounded  by  a  whitish  or  yellowish  circle  of 
hair.  The  eyes  also  are  usually  encircled  by  a  similar  marking. 
The  horns  should  be  white  or  amber  colored,  and  are  often  tinted 
a  deep  yellow,  curving  gracefully  around  inward  and  slightly 


THE  GUERNSEY 


279 


upward  with  the  cows,  though  the  bull's  horns  are  shorter, 
stronger,  and  less  curved.  The  hoofs  should  also  be  of  amber 
color.  A  rich  yellow  secretion  is  most  characteristic  of  the  Guern- 
sey, breeders  laying  much  emphasis  on  it  in  the  scale  of  points. 
The  color  of  skin,  as  shown  generally,  and  especially  in  the  ears, 
about  the  udder  or  scrotum,  and  at  the  end  of  tail,  is  a  very  deep 
yellow.  The  udder  of  the  Guernsey  is  larger  and  shows  more 
fore-udder  development  and  larger  teats  than  does  the  Jersey, 
though  not  materially  differing  in  quality.  In  general  quality 
cattle  of  this  breed  show  very  mellow,  thin,  elastic  skins, 
moderately  fine  hair,  frequently  heavy  shoulders  and  have  some- 
what larger  and  coarser  limbs  than  the  Jersey.  The  tempera- 
ment is  superior,  the  males  perhaps  being  hardly  as  nervous  and 
irritable  as  are  Jersey  bulls,  although  the  dairy  temperament  is 
characteristic  with  each  sex. 

The  size  of  the  Guernsey  most  acceptable  to  the  American 
Guernsey  Cattle  Club  is  about  1500  pounds  for  a  bull  four  years 
old  or  over,  and  1050  pounds  for  a  cow  of  the  same  age  class, 
these  being  the  score-card  standards. 

The  quantity  of  milk  produced  by  the  Guernsey  may  be  very 
considerable.  The  cows  are  retentive  milkers  and  produce  rather 
freely.  In  general,  a  yield  of  5000  pounds  a  year  should  be 
easily  averaged  in  a  herd.  Some  rather  large  individual  records 
have  been  produced  in  recent  years,  among  which  the  following 
are  noteworthy  : 


Name  of  Cow 

Age  During 
Period 

Yield  Milk 

Time 

Yeksa  Sunbeam  15439 

Lily  Alexandre  1059         

Lilyita  7241         

Miss  Bobolink  2157 

Lily  Ella  7240 

Gypsy  of  Racine  9639 

Glenwood  Girl  6th  91 13       .... 

9 

5 
13 

5 
8 

5 

14,920.80  lb. 
12,856.00    " 
12,812.73    " 
12,437.00    " 
12,282.62    " 
12,247.50    " 
12,184.30    " 

i  year 

T         " 

About  20  cows  of  this  breed  are  reported  as  producing  10,000 
or  more  pounds  of  milk  a  year.    For  average  yearly  herd  records 


280 


CATTLE 


Major  Alvord  reports  one  herd  of  104  animals  of  all  ages  making 
5317  pounds  of  milk  ;  another  herd  of  15  cows,  6626  pounds;  and 
a  third  herd  of  10  averaging  6347  pounds.  Yields  are  also  given 
of  from  48  to  52  pounds  per  day. 

The  Guernsey  as  a  butter  producer  is  entitled  to  special  dis- 
tinction. In  numerous  tests  at  experiment  stations,  on  farms 
under  official  supervision,  and  in  public  competition  the  breed 
has  attained  very  high  honors.  Guernsey  milk  is  usually  of  a 
higher  natural  yellow  color  than  that  of  any  other  breed  equally 
common,  due  to  its  butter-fat  content.  The  fat  globules  are 
large  and  have  a  deeper  yellow  than  even  the  Jersey.    In  fact 

Guernsey  breeders  seek 
the  rich  yellow  as  a  char- 
acteristic, arguing  that 
with  this  breed  it  is  not 
necessary  to  color  the 
butter,  as  its  natural  yel- 
low meets  the  market 
demands.  In  the  Pan- 
American  dairy  breed 
competition,  in  which  the 
Guernseys  secured  first 
honors,  the  average  per 
cent  of  fat  in  the  milk 
was  4.68,  compared  with 
4.82  for  the  Jersey  and 
4.75  for  the  Polled  Jersey. 
However,  the  Guernsey  butter  scored  an  average  of  96.34  total 
points,  compared  with  95.80  for  the  Jersey  ;  while  in  color  that 
of  the  Guernsey  had  an  average  grade  of  14.97  out  of  a  pos- 
sible 15  points,  the  best  record  of  any  of  the  ten  breeds.  The 
five  Guernsey  cows  in  the  Pan-American  test  for  the  six  months 
produced  1429.43  pounds  of  churned  butter,  valued  at  $357.36, 
yielding  a  net  profit  of  $220.37,  the  Dest  record  of  any  breed 
in  profit,  and  almost  the  first  record  in  amount  of  butter  pro- 
duced, the  Holstein-Friesian  leading  in  this  regard  by  only  three 
fourths  of  a  pound.  In  this  test  of  50  cows  of  ten  breeds  the 
Guernsey  cow  Mary  Marshall  5604,  aged  10  years,  led  the  list, 


Fig.  124.  Island  Champion  62623.  Before  im- 
portation this  bull,  who  had  won  the  highest 
honors  on  the  island,  was  known  as  Masher 
II.  Photographed  on  the  island  of  Guern- 
sey by  the  author 


THE  GUERNSEY 


281 


producing  in  six  months  56 n  pounds  of  milk,  testing  5.36  per 
cent  and  yielding  301.13  pounds  butter  fat  and  354.26  pounds 
churned  butter,  giving  a  total  profit  of  $59.43. 

Yearly  butter  herd  records  of  Guernseys  furnish  important 
testimony.  In  1896,  83  cows  and  heifers  of  L.  P.  Morton  of 
New  York  averaged  313  pounds  of  butter,  and  35  cows  in  1898 
averaged  5 14  pounds.  The  entire  herd  of  Ezra  Michener  of 
Pennsylvania,  for  ten  years  has  averaged  325  pounds  per  head. 
Twelve  head  of  Hill  &  Son  of  Wisconsin,  in  1893,  averaged 
382.2  pounds  ;  19  head  of  Sydney  Fisher  of  Canada,  300  pounds  ; 
16  head  of  N.  I.  Bowditch  of  Massachusetts,  397.1  pounds  ;  and 
28  cows  of  H.  McKay  Twombly,  376.6  pounds.  It  may  be  safely 
estimated  that  a  fair  Guernsey  herd  will  average  at  least  300 
pounds  of  butter  per  head  per  year,  and  should  do  better. 

While  this  breed  has  not  been  tested  as  much  as  either  Jersey 
or  Holstein-Friesian,  it  has  made  some  large  butter  records, 
from  which  the  following  are  selected  as  notable. 

Notable  Guernsey  Yearly  Butter  Records 


Name  of  Cow 


Age 


Average 
Fat  in  Milk 


Total 
Fat 


Estimated 
Butter 


Yeksa  Sunbeam  15439       .     . 

Lily  Ella  7240 

Lilyita  7241 

Charmante  of  the  Grove  14442 
Gypsy  of  Racine  9639        .     . 

Bretonne  3660 

Buda  7178         

Portia  of  Maplehurst  1007 1 
Miss  Bobolink  2157       .     .     . 
Glenwood  Girl  6th  91 13    .     . 
Quibble  6017         


5.74  per  cent 
6.42        " 
5.69 

5-45 
6.96 

4.80 

478        " 
5-17 


857.1 

782.2 

710.5 
676.5 
611. 4 
602.9 
602.7 
602.4 

596.9 

572.2 

545-3 


1 000.0  lb 
912.5  ' 
828.9  ' 
789.2  ' 
713-3  ' 
703-4  ' 
703.0  ' 
702.8  ' 
696.5  ' 

667.5  ' 
636.0  ' 


The  record  of  Yeksa  Sunbeam,  being  officially  supervised  by 
the  Wisconsin  Experiment  Station,  is  famous  as  being  the 
largest  official  test  of  butter-fat  production  recorded  for  one 
year.  This  cow  is  owned  by  Mr.  Fred  Rietbrock  of  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin. 


282 


CATTLE 


The  most  important  butter  record  of  a  two-year-old  Guernsey 
for  one  year,  is  that  of  the  heifer  Dolly  Bloom  12770,  which,  from 
March  26,  1902,  in  365  days  produced  8841.58  pounds  of  milk, 
which  tested  45  3 .86  pounds  butter  fat,  an  average  of  5 . 1 3  per  cent. 

Seven  days*  butter  records  of  Guernseys  have  been  made  to 
quite  an  extent,  and  many  animals  listed  as  having  made  official 
tests  of  14  or  more  pounds  of  butter  in  this  time.  Following  are 
some  of  the  more  prominent  ones : 


Name  of  Cow 


Royalette  3299 

Nubia's  Vesta  5986     .     .     . 

Gully  5th  1590 

Lily  Ella  7240 

Bessie  de  la  Pailloterie  1409 
Fantine  2d  3730  .  .  .  . 
Fern  wood  Lily  1468  .  •  . 
Select  2205 


Butter 
Record 


28  lb 

25 
24 

2  3 
2  3 
23 


ill 


1\  " 


The  cheese  value  of  Guernsey  milk  ranks  very  well,  although 
not  largely  used  for  this  purpose,  being  mainly  turned  to  butter 
production  or  retail  milk  trade.  The  milk  stands  well  in  total 
solids,  that  of  whole  herds  often  averaging  14  to  15  per  cent, 
thus  furnishing  a  satisfactory  grade  of  cheese.  The  only  official 
test  on  a  large  scale,  showing  the  value  of  Guernsey  milk  in 
cheese  making,  was  in  1893  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition. 
In  this  trial,  covering  1 5  days,  participated  in  by  Guernseys,  Jerseys, 
and  Shorthorns,  the  following  results  of  interest  were  secured  : 


Guernsey 
Jersey    .     , 
Shorthorn 


Total  Yield 
Cheese 


1130.62  lb. 

1451.76    " 
1077.60    " 


Lb.  Milk  to 
1  Lb.  Cheese 


9.67 

9.16 

H.31 


Total  Value 
Cheese 


#135-22 
193.98 
140.14 


Net  Profit 
of  Test 


£88.30 

II9.82 

81.36 


Score  of 
Cheese 


87.2 
90.7 
90.5 


This  record  places  the  Jersey  first  and  the  Guernsey  second, 
excepting  in  grade  of  cheese,  where  it  ranked  third. 


THE  GUERNSEY  283 

The  Guernsey  in  beef  production  can  have  but  a  subordinate 
place.  A  larger  and  perhaps  fatter  carcass  may  be  made  than 
with  the  Jersey,  but  this  presents  the  same  objection  as  other 
dairy  breeds,  —  too  much  offal,  a  low  percentage  of  high-priced 
cuts,  and,  in  this  case,  too  yellow  fat.  In  flavor  and  quality 
Guernsey  beef  or  veal  will  rank  high. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Guernsey  has  its  distinctive  place  on 
the  dairy  farm.    Crossing  of  breeds  is  not  advisable,  but  using 


FlG.  125.  Guernsey  Champion  8218,  by  Island  Champion  6263,  grand- 
champion  Guernsey  bull  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904. 
Owned  and  exhibited  by  H.  McKay  Twombly,  Madison,  New  Jersey. 
Photograph  by  the  author 

Guernsey  sires  on  grade  cows  will  give  excellent  results  if  intelli- 
gently followed,  yielding  very  rich  milk  eminently  suited  to  butter 
making  or  city  cream  or  milk  trade.  If  a  sire  with  strong  con- 
stitution is  selected  for  use  on  grade  Jerseys,  the  constitution, 
size,  and  productivity  of  the  herd  may  be  improved  ;  if  used  on 
grade  Holstein-Friesian  cows,  a  herd  producing  richer  milk, 
though  not  so  much,  may  be  expected. 

The  early  maturing  character  of  the  Guernsey  is  not  marked. 
The  young  bulls  show  masculine  traits  more  slowly  than  the 
Jersey,  and  reach  maturity  somewhat  later. 


284  CATTLE 

Guernsey  bulls  of  special  distinction  in  America  are  not  in 
large  number,  due  to  the  fact  that  until  recently  the  breed  has 
not  been  prominently  before  the  public,  and  comparatively  few 


Fig.  126.  Princess  May  1479  F.S.,  a  choice  specimen  of  a  Guernsey  cow, 
and  dam  of  the  imported  bull  Deputy  2917,  at  head  of  the  Pan- 
American  Exposition  Guernsey  herd.  From  a  photograph  taken  by 
the  author  on  the  island  of  Guernsey 


elaborate  tests  of  females  have  been  made.  The  following  bulls 
have  attained  eminence  both  as  sires  and  as  show  animals  in 
the  most  important  exhibitions  : 

Lord  Stranford  2187  (imported)  by  Chronicler  418  P.S. 

Benjamin  1931  by  Jeweler  1274. 

Sheet  Anchor  2934  by  Lord  Stranford  2187. 

Mainstay  3789  by  Sheet  Anchor  2934. 

Lily  Ella 's  Jeweler  5417  by  Springunde  4302. 

Island  Cha?npio7i  6263  (imported)  by  Masher  705  P.S. 

Prince  Rosendale  4291  by  Viscount  2177. 

The  distribution  of  the  Guernsey  breed  is  mainly  restricted  to 
Guernsey  Island,  England,  the  United  States,  and  Canada.  For 
many  years  large  and  superior  herds  have  been  maintained  in 
England,  especially  in  the  midland  and  southern  counties.  In 
the  United  States  the  breed  is  best  represented  in  New  England 


THE  GUERNSEY  285 

and  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  and  Wisconsin,  but 
is  also  found  occasionally  in  other  states,  notably  in  the  East  and 
middle  West.  Why  the  Guernsey  has  not  attracted  more  atten- 
tion in  the  United  States  has  never  been  clear  to  the  author.  It 
is  a  dairy  breed  of  the  highest  merit,  as  repeated  tests  have 
shown,  yet  it  is  quite  limited  in  development,  and  does  not 
seem  to  get  much  foothold  in  some  of  our  greatest  dairy  states, 
especially  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

Organizations  for  the  promotion  of  Guernsey  interests  exist 
on  Guernsey  and  in  England  and  the  United  States.  The 
Royal  Guernsey  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society  has  for 
many  years  supervised  the  registration  and  promotion  of  Guern- 
seys  on   the  island.    Two   herdbooks  are    maintained,   one  for 


Fig.  127.  Rutila's  Daughter  6670,  a  very  beautiful  Guernsey  cow  with  a  record 
of  8988  pounds  milk  in  one  year,  testing  4S9.8  pounds  butter  fat.  Owned 
by  H.  McKay  Twombly,  Madison,  New  Jersey.    Photograph  by  Schreiber 

general  registration,  the  other  for  advanced  registry.  The  Eng- 
lish Guernsey  Cattle  Society  was  organized  in  1885  and  has  pub- 
lished twenty  herdbooks  to  1904.  The  American  Guernsey  Cattle 
Club  was  organized  in  1877  in  New  York  City,  and  has  pub- 
lished to  1905  about  fifteen  herd  registers,  these  being  issued  in 


286 


CATTLE 


quarterly  parts,  since  1895,  as  the  American  Guernsey  Herd 
Register  and  Breeders'  Journal.  The  American  club  also  main- 
tains an  advanced  register.  Bulls  are  admitted  in  two  classes : 
(a)  after  scaling  80  points  and  having  two  daughters  in  the 
register  ;  and  (b)  without  scaling,  after  two  daughters  are  regis- 
tered. Cows  are  placed  in  two  classes  :  (a)  for  milk  or  butter-fat 
records  and  scaling  over  75  points  ;  and  (b)  for  milk  or  fat  records 


Fig.  1 28.  Yeksa  Sunbeam  1 5439,  the  Guernsey  cow  holding  the  world's  record 
for  the  largest  official  butter-fat  test  in  one  year.  During  12  months  end- 
ing in  1905  she  produced  14,920.8  pounds  milk  which  tested  857.15 
pounds  fat,  equivalent  to  1000  pounds  butter.  Owned  by  Fred  Rietbrock, 
Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.    Photograph  from  the  owner 

without  scaling.  The  cows  must  produce  from  the  first  day  of 
two  years  of  age,  or  before,  at  least  6000  pounds  of  milk,  and 
this  is  scaled  up  to  a  minimum  of  10,000  pounds  for  cows  five 
years  old  or  over.  So  the  year's  butter-fat  record  must  have  a 
minimum  of  250.5  pounds  at  two  years,  and  360  for  over  five. 
Seven-day  fat  tests  are  also  provided  for.  The  tests  for  advanced 
registry  are  supervised  by  agricultural  college  or  experiment 
station  experts. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

THE  AYRSHIRE 

The  native  home  of  the  Ayrshire  is  in  southwestern  Scotland 
in  the  county  of  Ayr,  from  which  the  breed  derives  its  name. 
Ayr  is  triangularly  crescent  in  its  shape,  its  southern  tip  just 
touching  latitude  550  north,  its  western  boundary  somewhat  in- 
dented and  bordering  the  Irish  Sea  and  river  Clyde,  its  other 
sides  skirted  by  the  counties  of  Renfrew,  Lanark,  Dumfries, 
Kirkcudbright,  and  Wigtown.  There  is  an  extreme  length  of 
about  80  miles,  with  an  area  of  about  1 150  square  miles.  Rather 
poor  and  sandy  land  occurs  in  the  southern  part  toward  the  sea, 
while  much  beautiful  rolling  pasture  land  of  fair  soil  is  found 
more  inland,  and  some  rougher  land  on  the  eastern  borders.  On 
the  better  lands,  which  are  clayey,  grass,  oats,  and  wheat  are 
largely  grown  and  there  is  abundance  of  summer  grazing.  The 
climate  is  very  moist,  but  the  bitterness  of  a  northern  winter  is 
somewhat  tempered  by  the  sea. 

The  origin  of  the  Ayrshire  has  been  in  the  main  a  complex 
one.  Aiton,  the  first  and  almost  only  early  authority  on  the 
breed,  wrote  A  Survey  of  Ayrshire  about  181 1.  He  regarded 
it  as  the  native  breed  of  Ayr,  improved  by  certain  other  stock. 
Some  time  about  1770  Teeswater  cattle,  Shorthorn,  or  similar 
stock  were  introduced  into  Ayrshire.  John  Dunlop  of  Dunlop 
is  credited  with  importing  cows  of  large  size,  of  either  Teeswater, 
Dutch,  or  Lincoln  breeds,  and  in  1805  Dunlop  stock  is  referred 
to  by  Forsythe  as  having  been  established  in  the  parish  of  that 
name  for  over  a  century.  Other  writers  claim  that  the  cattle  of 
the  Channel  Islands  crossed  with  Shorthorns  were  early  used  in 
Ayrshire.  About  18 18  West  Highland  cattle  were  used  by  Mr. 
Parton  near  Dairy,  Ayr,  on  a  superior  herd  of  Ayrshires.  Devon 
and  Hereford  blood  are  also  said  to  have  been  used  by  other 
breeders.    The  earliest  accounts  of  the  cattle  of  Ayrshire  show 

287 


288  CATTLE 

them  to  have  been  black  and  white.  About  1780  red  and  white 
became  fashionable,  while  from  1785  to  1805  brown  and  white 
mottled  cattle  were  much  preferred,  and  later,  in  18 10,  red  and 
white  was  a  common  color.  These  latter  colors  of  brown,  red, 
and  white  have  been  carried  down  to  the  present  time.  Thus  it 
is  apparent  that  the  Ayrshire  as  a  breed  is  evolved  from  a  variety  of 
blood,  mainly  from  types  associated  with  larger  milking  capacity. 
The  early  improvers  of  the  Ayrshire  were  not  notably  distin- 
guished over  the  general  run  of  breeders  who  seek  to  improve 


Fig.  129.  Dunraven  of  Ste.  Annes  7662,  an  Ayrshire  bull  owned  by 
Howard  Cook,  Beloit,  Ohio.  This  animal  has  been  a  prominent 
first-prize  winner  and  champion  at  leading  shows  in  1905  and  1906. 
Photograph  by  the  author 

local  cattle.  It  was  early  evident  that  the  people  laid  importance 
on  milk  production.  Forsythe,  a  Scotchman,  writes  in  1805  of 
cows  yielding  from  24  to  30  quarts  of  milk  daily  ;  and  in  1829 
William  Harley  states  that  he  had  cows  that  occasionally  gave 
25  to  30  quarts  daily,  and  one  day  even  produced  40  quarts.  In 
1836  the  Highland  and  Agricultural  Society  of  Scotland  offered 
a  large  premium  to  be  competed  for  by  the  breed.  By  1850 
Ayrshires  were  the  prevailing  stock  in  Ayr  and  also  in  Renfrew 
and  Lanark  counties.  In  1853  the  first  systematic  effort  at  im- 
provement came  in  a  scale  of  points  adopted  by  the  Ayrshire 


THE  AYRSHIRE  289 

Agricultural  Association.  In  1 866,  in  a  prize  essay  on  county  Ayr, 
Archibald  Sturrock  writes  that  "a  capacious  and  well-set  udder 
is  certainly  the  chief  point  of  excellence  in  the  Ayrshire  cow." 

The  introduction  of  the  Ayrshire  to  America  probably  first 
occurred  early  in  the  last  century,  when  Scotch  settlers  moved 
to  Canada.  In  the  Memoirs  of  the  Pennsylvania  Agricultural 
Society  for  1824  considerable  discussion  is  devoted  to  breeds 
of  cattle,  yet  the  name  Ayrshire  is  not  used.  John  Hare  Powell, 
the  secretary,  who  had  studied  the  breeds  in  Europe,  says,  "  I 
have  traced  every  importation  of  which  I  have  heard,"  and  makes 
special  reference  to  eight  different  states  and  various  breeds, 
but  does  not  mention  the  Ayrshire.  Sturtevant  states  that  the 
first  importation  into  the  United  States  is  thought  to  have  been 
made  in  1822  by  H.  W.  Hills  to  Windsor,  Connecticut.  In  1837 
the  Massachusetts  Society  for  Promoting  Agriculture  imported 
one  cow,  which  is  reported  to  have  yielded  sixteen  pounds  of  butter 
a  week  for  several  weeks.  Lewis  F.  Allen  of  New  York  writes 
that  in  1837  he  visited  the  Ayrshire  herd  of  John  P.  Cushing 
near  Boston,  Massachusetts,  who  had  imported  from  Ayrshire 
regardless  of  price.  In  1848  E.  A.  Brown  introduced  Ayrshires  to 
Ohio,  these  being  the  first  of  this  dairy  breed  to  enter  the  state. 

Characteristics  of  Ayrshires.  Mature  cattle  of  this  breed 
impress  one  as  of  medium  dairy  size,  as  large  milk  producers,  and 
yet  with  more  of  a  beefy  tendency  than  some  other  dairy  breeds. 
The  color  includes  red,  brown,  and  white.  In  1875  Sturtevant 
quoted  as  follows  from  a  letter  from  Robert  Wilson,  a  breeder 
in  Scotland: 

Colors  of  Ayrshires  are  much  the  same  since  I  can  remember ;  different 
breeders  have  their  particular  color.  Light  yellow,  though  common  with 
some  breeders,  is  not  the  most  common  color.  Red  and  white  flecked,  though 
it  should  incline  a  little  to  yellowish  or  brown,  is  more  a  prevailing  color  of 
the  breed.  .  .  .  White,  if  there  be  not  roan  mixed  with  it,  I  do  not  con- 
sider a  proof  of  the  presence  of  Shorthorn  blood.  Our  favorite  colors  are 
white  flecked  or  red  bodies  and  white  legs.  Dark  reds  and  black  muzzles 
are  favorites  also. 

In  1875  Sturtevant  published  statistics  of  a  color  classification 
of  2852  Ayrshires  in  the  United  States,  of  which  2014,  or  70.61 
per  cent,  were  red  and  white  ;  222,  or  y.yS  per  cent,  red  or  mostly 


290 


CATTLE 


red;  241,  or  8.45  per  cent,  brown  and  white;  and  194,  or  6.80 
per  cent,  white  and  red,  the  balance  being  split  into  various  colors. 
Secretary  Winslow  of  the  Ayrshire  association  in  the  1902  year- 
book reports  that  the  color  that  seems  to  please  the  majority  is 
dark  red  and  pure  white,  about  one  third  white  in  splashes.  In 
Canada  and  Scotland  a  strong  admixture  of  white  is  popular.  The 
horns  are  white  with  black  tips,  curve  outward  and  upward,  and 
often,  especially  with  cows,  turn  back  at  the  tips.  They  fre- 
quently appear  both  long  and  rather  large.    Winslow  states  that 


Fig.  130.    Gladys  Drummond  11S00,  an  Ayrshire  cow,  successfully  shown  by 
J.  F.  Converse  &  Co.,  Woodville,  New  York.    Photograph  by  the  author 

the  size  is  a  matter  of  local  taste,  either  fine  or  coarse,  the  Scotch 
or  Canadians  preferring  a  larger  horn  than  do  the  people  in  the 
States.  The  body  of  the  Ayrshire  is  capacious,  the  ribs  being 
long  and  well  sprung,  the  rump  usually  high,  broad,  long,  and 
level,  while  the  thighs  and  the  hind  quarter  partake  somewhat 
of  fleshiness.  The  depth  of  body  often  appears  great,  with  a 
relative  shortness  of  leg.  The  udder  development  of  the  modern 
Ayrshire  presents  a  higher  average  perfection  of  form,  in  the 
writer's  opinion,  than  does  any  other  breed.  The  type  is  not 
pendent,  but  the  rear  part  is  carried  well  up  behind,  while  the 
fore  udder  has  unusual  extension.    A  row  of  aged  Ayrshire  cows 


THE  AYRSHIRE 


291 


in  a  show  ring  alongside  other  breeds  is  conspicuous  for  the 
uniform  and  superior  type  of  udder.  In  quality  Ayrshires  are 
only  medium,  though  thick  heavy  skins  are  far  too  abundant. 
The  temperament  is  of  a  nervous  character,  this  being  especially 
true  of  the  bulls,  the  cows  having  a  reasonably  mild  disposition. 

The  size  of  the  Ayrshire  is  fairly  uniform  in  the  mature  type. 
The  American  standard  calls  for  the  mature  bull  to  weigh  about 
1500  and  the  cow  1000  pounds.  The  Scotch  standard  favors  a 
cow  weighing  about  1050  pounds.  Sturtevant  gives  the  weights 
of  nine  pure-bred  aged  cows  in  his  herd,  which  varied  from  985 
to  1200  pounds.  The  cows  in  Mr.  Winslow's  herd  from  1881  to 
1887  showed  an  average 
yearly  weight  of  from 
1020  to  1 102  pounds  per 
head. 

The  Ayrshire  as  a  milk 
producer  has  ranked  high 
since   she  first   became 
known    as    a    breed.     In 
181 1    Aiton    wrote    that 
probably    1200   Scotch 
pints  (2148  quarts)  of 
milk  from  each  cow  in  the 
course  of  a  year  would  be 
a  fair  average.     In   1829 
Harley,  a  famous  dairy- 
man, placed  the  average  of  his  herd  at  12  quarts  a  day.    One 
of  his  cows  for  a  considerable  time  gave  40  quarts  per  day. 
Ayrshire  milk  is  only  average  in  quality,  usually  testing  between 
3.5  and  4  per  cent  butter  fat  and  12.5  per  cent  total  solids. 

Ayrshire  herd  milk  records  of  interest  have  been  available  for 
many  years,  a  number  of  eastern  breeders  having  long  kept  such 
statistics.  In  the  Sturtevant  herd  in  Massachusetts  in  1873- 
1874  an  average  of  5475  pounds  was  secured  from  14  cows. 
Mr.  J.  D.  W.  French  of  Massachusetts  reports  average  herd 
records  between  1874  and  1890  ranging  from  5222  pounds  to 
6934  pounds  per  head.  Between  1880  and  1889  the  herd  of 
Mr.  C.  M.  Winslow  of  Vermont  averaged  from  5782  pounds  to 


Fig.  131.  Knockdon  Maggie,  a  prize-winning 
Ayrshire  cow  in  Scotland,  owned  by  Alex- 
ander Cross,  Kilmarnock.  Photograph  by 
the  author 


292 


CATTLE 


7025  pounds  a  year  per  head.  During  four  years  the  herd  of 
Mr.  L.  S.  Drew  of  Vermont  averaged  6010,  5849,  6020,  and 
6182  pounds  per  head  annually. 

Notable  individual  records  of  Ayrshire  cows  compare  favorably 
in  amount  with  those  of  any  breed  except  the  Holstein-Friesian. 
The  following  official  tests  are  recorded  in  the  Ayrshire  Yearbook  : 


Name 


Yield  Milk 


Timi 


Alice  Douglas  4398 
Rena  Myrtle  9530 
Myra  2955  .  .  . 
Queen  Mary  6578  . 
Ruth  4816  .  .  . 
Miss  Ollie  12039  • 
Durwood  12680 
Hornell  Girl  13993 


12,617  lb. 

12,172  « 

11,908  " 

IM54  " 

10,219!  " 

1,649  " 

i,477  " 

i,458  " 


one  year 


month 


One  of  the  famous  Ayrshire  cows  to  attract  attention  was 
Duchess  of  Smithfield  4256,  which  in  a  seven  days'  test  in  1885 
produced  463!  pounds  of  milk  yielding  19  pounds  6  ounces 
of  butter. 

The  Ayrshire  as  a  butter  cow  is  secondary  to  some  of  the  other 
breeds.  In  official  yearly  tests  of  individual  cows,  milk  from  Rena 
Myrtle  9530  produced  546  pounds  of  butter;  Atalanta  10777, 
429  pounds;  Nancy  B.  9581,  416  pounds  ;  and  Acme  5th  10342, 
386  pounds.  Some  fifty  records  of  private  tests  for  a  year  range 
from  400  pounds  of  butter  up  to  624  pounds  credited  to  Lady 
Fox  9669.  Many  Ayrshire  cows  have  official  records  of  fifty  or 
more  pounds  of  butter  a  month,  the  highest  being  96.66  pounds 
credited  to  Cad's  Beauty  13606.  Lukolela  12357  m  seven  days 
produced  18.98  pounds  of  butter;  Miss  Ollie  12039,  17-85 
pounds;  and  Miss  Olga  13984,  16.70  pounds. 

Ayrshires  in  public  tests  have  stood  well.  In  the  Pan-American 
dairy  breed  test  in  1901  the  five  Ayrshires  for  120  days  ranked 
second  in  milk  production,  yielding  32,998.2  pounds  milk,  com- 
pared with  39,260.2  for  the  Holstein-Friesian  ;  fourth  in  estimated 
butter,  1434.7  pounds;  and  second  in  net  profit,  $242.24.  It 
is  but  fair  to  state  in  this  connection  that  the  Pan-American 


THE  AYRSHIRE  293 

specimens  of  Ayrshires  in  the  test  were  fine  examples  of  the 
breed,  which  did  not  obtain  with  some  of  the  other  breeds.  The 
best  Ayrshire  in  the  test,  Betsy  1st,  produced  7041.5  pounds 
milk,  which  tested  3.59  per  cent  fat  and  yielded  in  estimated 
butter  298.57  pounds.  She  was  eighth  in  rank  among  the  fifty 
cows,  giving  a  net  profit  of  $46.07,  compared  with  the  Guernsey, 
Mary  Marshall,  first,  with  a  net  profit  of  $59.40.  In  comparisons 
made  at  various  experiment  stations  and  at  fairs  the  Ayrshire  has 
usually  stood  second  to  the  Holstein-Friesian  in  milk  production, 
but  below  this  in  butter  fat. 

Ayrshire  milk  for  cheese  making  has  long  been  a  standard  for 
making  Cheddar  cheese  in  Scotland,  where  it  is  made  on  a  large 
scale  in  the  Ayrshire  district.     Containing  as  it  does  about  the 


Fig.  132.    In  the  Ayrshire  ring  at  the  Highland  and  Agricultural  Society  of 
Scotland  Show,  at  Glasgow,  1S97.    Photograph  by  the  author 

standard  amount  of  fat  and  solids  for  cheese  making,  this  milk  is 
regarded  with  favor  for  this  purpose.  In  cheese  tests  at  the 
Ontario  Experimental  Farm  100  pounds  of  Ayrshire  milk  pro- 
duced 12.9  pounds  of  curd,  compared  with  an  average  of  12.8  for 
all  breeds  and  grades.  Professor  Robert  Wallace,  the  well-known 
Scotch  authority,  states  that  the  Ayrshire  is  essentially  a  cheese 
dairy  cow  on  account  of  the  comparatively  small-sized  butter-fat 
globules  of  the  milk  and  the  abundance  of  the  curd-making 
material  it  contains. 

The  Ayrshire  as  a  producer  of  beef  ranks  among  the  first  of  the 
dairy  breeds.  It  is  natural  for  animals  of  this  breed  to  carry 
somewhat  more  flesh  than  the  more  refined  dairy  type.  Ayrshire 
steers  feed  to  make  a  very  salable  carcass,  with  a  killing  quality 


294 


CATTLE 


more  acceptable  to  the  butcher  than  the  other  dairy  breeds,  lack- 
ing the  high  fat  color  of  the  Jersey  and  Guernsey  and  the  offal 
of  the  Holstein-Friesian.  One  Ayrshire  steer  1095  days  old  is 
reported  by  Henry  to  have  weighed  1320  pounds,  gained  1.2 
pounds  daily,  and  dressed  out  63.3  per  cent,  the  poorest  daily 
gain  made  by  any  of  eleven  breeds,  but  dressing  out  better  than 
Sussex,  Holstein-Friesian,  Jersey,  or  native.  Other  evidence  also 
indicates  that  Ayrshires  mature  and  feed  slowly. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Ayrshire  is  better  suited  to  milk  pro- 
duction than  anything  else.  Consequently  Ayrshire  bulls  on 
grade  cows  will  improve  the  herd  to  greater  milk-producing 
power,  and  may  add  to  their  selling  value  to  the  butcher,  if  used 
on  Jersey  grades. 

The  distribution  of  the  Ayrshire  is  almost  world-wide.  Con- 
siderable numbers  have  been  exported  from  Scotland  to  Sweden, 
Norway,  Finland,  Russia,  South  Africa,  Australia,  New  Zealand, 
China,  Japan,  Canada,  and  the  United  States.  Quite  a  trade  has 
sprung  up  between  Scotland  and  Sweden  and  Norway.  In 
America  the  breed  is  best  represented  in  Canada,  notably  in 
Ontario  and  Quebec,  while  in  the  United  States  it  is  chiefly 
found  in  the  New  England  and  eastern  states.  In  the  Mississippi 
Valley  west  of  New  York  the  Ayrshire  has  never  succeeded  in 
securing  but  a  frail  foothold,  in  spite  of  its  evident  merit.  The 
breed  seems  to  have  adapted  itself  unusually  well  to  the  cooler 
and  more  hilly  sections,  being  a  good  grazer  and  thriving  under 
not  the  best  of  conditions.  In  fact  the  Ayrshire  in  Britain  has 
been  termed  the  poor  man's  cow,  being  better  able  to  thrive  on 
inferior  land  and  feed  than  any  other  breed  excepting  the  Kerry. 
This,  however,  should  not  affect  its  prospering  in  the  great  dairy- 
producing  states  of  America  west  of  New  York. 

Organizations  to  promote  Ayrshire  interests  exist  in  Scotland, 
Canada,  and  the  United  States.  In  1863  a  few  men  organized  in 
Massachusetts  and  that  year  published  Volume  I  of  the  Herd 
Record  of  the  Association  of  Breeders  of  Thoroughbred  Stock, 
Ayrshire.  In  1868  a  second  volume  was  published,  and  in  1871 
Volume  III  appeared  with  the  title  The  American  and  Canadian 
Ayrshire  Herd  Record.  In  January,  1875,  the  American  Ayrshire 
Breeders'  Association  was  formed,  which  continued  this  record, 


THE  AYRSHIRE 


295 


publishing  Volume  IV  that  year.  In  1876  Volume  V,  old  series, 
or  Volume  I,  new  series,  of  the  AyrsJiire  Record  came  out,  since 
which  a  total  of  sixteen  volumes  (new  series)  has  been  published 
up  to  1905.  In  1874  E.  L.  and  Joseph  Sturtevant  started  a 
herdbook,  publishing  Volume  I  in  1875  as  the  North  American 
AyrsJiire  Register,  this  being  for  cattle  tracing  to  importation. 
They  published  four  volumes,  the  last  in  1880.  The  Ayrshire 
Importers'  and  Breeders'  Association  of  Canada  was  organized  in 
1870  and  the  Dominion  Ayrshire  Breeders'  Association  in  1889  ; 
in  1898  the  former  merged  with  the  latter.  In  1884  the  province 
of  Ontario  published  Volume  I  of  the  Dominion  Ayrshire  Herd- 
book.  In  1886  Volume  I  of  the  Montreal  AyrsJiire  Herdbook 
was  published,  and  four  volumes  in  all  issued  as  the  Canadian 
Ayrshire  Record,  after  which  it  was  merged  with  the  Dominion 
book  into  the  Canadian  AyrsJiire  Record,  Volume  IX  being  pub- 
lished in  1 899.  The  American  Ayrshire  Breeders'  Association  also 
provides  for  an  advanced  registry  for  both  bulls  and  cows.  The 
minimum  year  record  for  a  cow  five  years  old  or  over  is  8500 
pounds  of  milk  and  375  pounds  of  butter.  The  Scotch  Ayrshire 
Cattle  and  Herdbook  Society  was  founded  in  1877,  the  first 
volume  of  the  herdbook  appearing  in  1878,  since  when  twenty- 
eight  volumes  have  been  published  up  to  1905  inclusive. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 
THE  DUTCH  BELTED 

The  native  home  of  Dutch  Belted  cattle  is  Holland,  where  they 
are  known  as  Lakenfeld  cattle,  the  word  "  Laken "  meaning 
blanket,  or  sheet,  about  the  body. 

The  origin  of  Dutch  Belted  cattle  dates  back  beyond  the  seven- 
teenth century.  This  type  is  said  to  have  been  established  by 
scientific  breeding  and  especially  promoted  and  guarded  by  the 


Fig.  133.    Sutton  379,  a  Dutch  Belted  bull  owned  by  F.  R.  Sanders,  Laconia, 
New  Hampshire.    Photograph  by  the  author 

nobility  of  the  Netherlands.  The  Dutch  Belted  Herdbook  states 
that  at  one  time  belted  cattle  having  black  rings  about  one  inch 
wide  around  the  eyes  existed  in  Holland,  especially  in  the  seven- 
teenth century.    Only  the  most  obscure  information  is  available 

296 


THE   DUTCH   BELTED 


297 


regarding  the  origin  and  development  of  this  breed,  it  being  almost 
unmentioned  in  extensive  literature  on  the  breeds  of  cattle. 

The  introduction  of  Dutch  Belted  cattle  to  America  dates  back 
to  1838,  when  D.  H.  Haight  of  Goshen,  New  York,  made  the 
first  importation,  followed  by  a  second  in  1848.    P.  T.  Barnum, 


Fig.  134.    A  Dutch  Belted  cow  owned  by  F.  R.  Sanders,  Laconia,  New 
Hampshire.    Photograph  by  the  author 

the  famous  showman,  and  R.  W.  Coleman  also  made  importations. 
The  early  development  of  this  breed  was  largely  in  southern 
New  York  in  Orange  County.  No  Dutch  Belted  cattle  have 
been  brought  to  this  country  for  at  least  fifty  years. 

Characteristics  of  Dutch  Belted  cattle.  In  size  they  are  some- 
what smaller  than  the  Holstein-Friesian,  being  more  comparable 
with  the  Ayrshire.  Mr.  G.  G.  Gibbs,  a  New  Jersey  breeder,  states 
that  the  cows  weigh  from  900  to  1250  pounds,  while  a  number 
of  bulls  have  exceeded  a  ton  in  weight.  The  bull  Duke  of  Ralph 
255  when  three  years  old  weighed  1 200  pounds  ;  Edward  the 
Great  I,  2000  pounds  ;  and  Duke  of  Goshen  27,  also  2000  pounds. 
A  weight  of  1500  pounds  or  so  should  prevail  with  the  bulls. 
The  cow  Lady  Aldine  124,  a  well-known  prize  winner,  weighed 
1200  pounds.    In  color  the  cattle  are  invariably  black,  with  a 


298  CATTLE 

white  band  of  varying  width  about  the  body,  in  front  of  the  hips, 
rarely  reaching  the  shoulders.  Sometimes  this  band  narrows  to 
even  a  foot  in  width  or  less,  and  again  other  specimens  have  it  as 
a  wide  blanket.  The  fore  part  of  the  udder  of  the  cow  is  also  often 
white.  In  udder  conformation  and  development  these  cows  are 
rather  inferior,  the  size  being  comparatively  small,  the  fore  udder 
abbreviated,  and  the  teats  placed  too  closely  together. 

The  dairy  importance  of  Dutch  Belted  cattle  is  its  principal 
value,  aside  from  the  ornamental.  There  is  but  little  on  record 
concerning  the  merits  of  the  breed  as  a  whole,  although  external 
indications  would  not  justify  high  praise.  Alvord  states  that  the 
cow  Lady  Aldine  1 24  produced  as  high  as  32  quarts  of  milk  a  day 
on  grass  alone.  Lady  Baird  82  was  credited  with  a  similar  pri- 
vate record  in  1893  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition.  J.  A. 
Holbert  of  New  York  reports  a  herd  of  from  25  to  30  cows  and 
heifers  averaging  per  year  from  8305  to  9018  pounds  of  milk  for 
the  herd.  The  only  test  of  this  breed  which  has  been  reported  to 
the  public  was  in  the  Pan-American  Model  Dairy  test  in  1901, 
in  which  ten  breeds  participated.  In  this  trial  the  five  Dutch 
Belted  cows  made  the  following  record 


Yield  of  milk  ....  24,893.5  lb. 

Churned  butter     .     .     .  977-1  lb. 

Net  profit  on  butter  .     .  $1 1 1.96 

Total  solids      ....  3066.47  lb. 

Value  solids     ....  $275.98 


n  120  days : 

.     breed  rank,  eighth 
.     breed  rank,  tenth 
breed  rank,  tenth 
.     breed  rank,  ninth 
.     breed  rank,  ninth 


This  record  is  not  especially  complimentary  to  the  breed. 

The  Dutch  Belted  as  beef  producers  can  hardly  be  regarded  as 
superior  to  the  dairy  breeds,  and  no  doubt  will  not  compare 
favorably  with  the  Holstein-Friesian.  They  lack  the  size  of  the 
latter  and  do  not  show  the  tendency  to  produce  flesh  so  charac- 
teristic of  some  Holstein-Friesians.  Owing  to  the  comparative 
scarcity  of  the  Dutch  Belted,  one  finds  almost  no  steers  of  the 
breed  on  the  market. 

The  general  adaptability  of  the  Dutch  Belted  is  quite  com- 
parable with  the  Dutch  type,  bred  to  thrive  on  abundant  food 
under  rather  favorable  conditions.  One  of  the  best-known  herds 
in  America  is  kept  in  New  Hampshire,  in  a  rough,  mountainous 
section   where   the   winters   are    severe   and   long.     The   fertile 


THE  DUTCH  BELTED  299 

meadows  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  however,  will  provide  more 
favorable  conditions  for  the  best  development  of  the  breed. 

Dutch  Belted  cross-breds  or  grades  inherit  the  striking  char- 
acteristics of  the  pure-bred  sire.     Says  one  breeder  : 

Crossed  on  cattle  of  any  solid  color  they  almost  invariably  produce  the 
belt,  though  if  the  dam  be  a  Devon  the  calf  may  be  red  at  the  ends  ;  or  if 
the  dam  is  a  Shorthorn,  the  calf  may  be  red  or  roan.  But  the  belt  of  the 
pure  white  is  there,  nevertheless. 

An  interesting  example  of  this  intensity  of  Dutch  Belted  pre- 
potency took  place  in  the  herd  of  the  Ohio  State  University. 
A  cow  of  this  breed,  to  the  service  of  a  pure-bred  Jersey  bull, 
dropped  a  cross-bred  calf,  with  a  white  blanket  about  the  body, 
quite  similar  to  that  of  the  dam,  excepting  for  one  small  black 
spot  on  the  white  covering. 

The  distribution  of  Dutch  Belted  cattle  is  very  restricted.  They 
occur  in  only  a  small  way  in  Holland  and  in  the  United  States, 
Canada,  and  Mexico.  The  largest  herds  are  found  in  New 
York,  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and 
Mississippi,  but  there  are  other  herds  even  as  far  as  California. 

The  promotion  of  the  Dutch  Belted  breed  is  supervised  by  the 
Dutch  Belted  Cattle  Association  of  America,  organized  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1886,  in  New  York  City.  Volume  I  of  the  herdbook 
was  published  the  same  year,  containing  the  registration  of  46 
males  and  177  females,  mainly  owned  in  New  York,  with  others 
scattered  throughout  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  New  Hampshire, 
Illinois,  and  South  Carolina.  The  last  volume  of  the  herdbook, 
numbered  VII,  was  published  in  1903. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

THE  FRENCH  CANADIAN 

The  native  home  of  French  Canadian  cattle  is  in  the  province 
of  Quebec,  Canada.  The  country  is  somewhat  undulating  and 
rough,  though  not  mountainous,  and  excellent  crops  of  grass,  oats, 
barley,  potatoes,  and  roots  are  grown.  The  winters  are  rather 
long  and  cold,  with  much  snow,  the  summers  short  and  cool. 

The  origin  of  the  French  Canadian  breed  is  claimed  to  be  from 
stock  brought  from  France  to  Quebec  by  the  early  settlers,  prior 
to  1665.  No  definite  information  is  on  record  as  to  just  where 
these  cattle  came  from  in  France,  but  it  is  presumed  that  they 
came  from  Brittany  and  perhaps  Normandy.  For  two  hundred 
years  or  more  their  descendants  have  been  bred  in  Quebec 
without  essential  admixture  of  other  blood. 

Characteristics  of  French  Canadian  cattle.  In  type  there  is 
considerable  resemblance  to  the  Channel  Island  breeds,  especially 
the  Jersey.  The  color  is  solid  black,  or  black  with  a  yellow  fawn 
stripe  along  the  back  and  around  the  muzzle,  brown  brindle,  or 
brown  with  black  points.  The  black  type  of  males  is  preferred. 
The  horns  are  generally  curved  outward  and  then  in,  with  the 
tips  turned  toward  each  other.  The  color  of  horn  is  white  with 
black  tip.  In  size  the  mature  female  weighs  from  700  to  800 
pounds,  and  the  bull  about  1000.  They  often,  however,  weigh 
less  than  this.  In  general  conformation  one  is  impressed  with 
a  certain  roughness  and  angularity  of  form,  after  the  more 
angular  Jersey  type.  In  quality  they  show  a  mellow  hide,  and  a 
rich  yellow  skin,  notable  for  its  high  orange-yellow  color  within 
the  ear  and  about  the  udder.  A  fine  silky  coat  of  hair  is  an 
important  indication  of  quality.  "The  chief  points  of  these 
cattle,"  says  C.  N.  Lepter  of  Quebec,  "from  a  dairyman's  point 
of  view,  are  that  they  have  large  udders  and  teats  placed  far 
apart  and  pointing  in  front." 

300 


THE  FRENCH  CANADIAN 


30: 


The  milk-producing  quality  of  the  French  Canadian  is  its  special 
recommendation.  The  only  notable  public  test  in  which  the 
breed  has  taken  a  part  was  that  of  the  Pan-American  Model 
Dairy.  In  this  case  the  competition  gave  the  breed  a  medium 
record  among  the  ten  tried.  In  production  of  milk  during  six 
months  the  five  cows  produced  24,656.4  pounds,  which  yielded 
1179.65  pounds  of  churned  butter  valued  at  $294.91,  giving  a 
net  profit  of  $181.81.  In  cost  of  butter  per  pound  the  French 
Canadian  ranked  third  at  9.76  cents,  the  Guernseys  being  first 
at  9.31,  and  the  Jerseys  second  at  9.48  cents.  The  best  net 
profit  made  by  a  cow  of  this  breed  in  the  fat  test,  among  the  fifty 
cows  of  all  breeds,  was  $40.63  for  Denise  Championne,  twenty- 
first  in  the  test.  Rouen,  another  cow  of  the  breed,  ranked  next 
to  Denise  Championne,  the  difference  between  these  two  being 
very  nominal.  Mr.  J.  A.  Couture  of  Quebec,  writing  regarding 
the  dairy  capacity  of  this  breed,  states  that  the  cow  Pruniere 
17 1 2,  the  property  of  the  Hospital  du  Sacre-Cceur,  Quebec,  dur- 
ing 318  days  produced  11,310  pounds  of  milk,  a  daily  average 
of  over  35  pounds.  This  cow  weighed  about  675  pounds.  The 
cow  Azilza  de  Levis  956  is  said  to  have  produced  8000  pounds  a 
year.  An  average  yield  of  5000  pounds  is  regarded  as  a  stand- 
ard. The  quality  of  French  Canadian  milk  in  butter  fat  is  good, 
but  not  equal  to  that  of  the  Jersey  or  Guernsey.  In  the  Pan- 
American  trials  the  milk  of  this  breed  averaged  4.04  per  cent  fat, 
the  same  as  the  Red  Polled,  compared  with  4.68  for  the  Guernsey, 
4.75  for  the  Polled  Jersey,  and  4.82  for  the  horned  Jersey. 

The  hardy  character  of  the  French  Canadian  cattle  is  one  of  their 
strong  features.  They  have  vigorous  constitutions,  well  adapted 
to  the  rigors  of  a  Canadian  winter,  and  capable  of  making  good 
return  at  the  pail  with  a  most  economical  expenditure  of  food,  thriv- 
ing, it  is  said,  where  other  cattle  would  starve.  The  claim  has  been 
made  by  Canadian  breeders  that  cattle  of  this  breed  are  not  af- 
fected with  tuberculosis  as  commonly  as  other  cattle.  They  should 
be  suited  to  the  more  northern  section  of  the  United  States. 

The  grazing  qualities  of  French  Canadians  rank  very  high,  and 
the  cows  are  said  to  yield  large  returns  of  milk  on  pasture  alone. 
On  poor  pastures  or  hill  farms  they  are  better  suited  to  thrive 
than  the  larger  breeds. 


302 


CATTLE 


The  breeding  qualities  of  French  Canadians  also  rank  well. 
This  would  naturally  be  the  case,  due  to  the  hardy,  exposed 
lives  they  so  often  lead. 

The   early   maturing   qualities   of   the   French   Canadian   are 

secondary.  This  is  largely  due  to  the  limited  food  and  rigorous 
conditions  of  keeping.  More  abundant  food  and  better  care 
would  improve  the  breed  in  this  respect. 

The  distribution  of  French  Canadian  cattle  is  mainly  restricted 
to  Quebec,  where  it  is  the  principal  breed  in  some  twenty-five 
counties.  Registered  cattle  are  most  bred  in  the  counties  of 
Berthier,  Joliette,  Drummond,  Kamouraska,  and  L' Islet.  They 
are  also  found  in  a  small  way  in  the  United  States,  in  northern 
New  York  State. 

The  promotion  of  pure  French  Canadian  cattle  has  been  assisted 
by  the  legislature  of  Quebec  and  a  breeding  association.  About 
1886  the  legislature  adopted  rules  for  the  registration  of  foun- 
dation animals,  and  until  1895  a  herdbook  was  maintained. 
Animals  of  correct  form  and  acceptably  pure  descent  were 
eligible  to  registration.  In  1895  the  French  Canadian  Cattle 
Breeders'  Association  was  organized,  and  in  September  of  that 
year  assumed  the  control  of  all  herdbook  records. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE   KERRY 

The  native  home  of  Kerry  cattle  is  in  western  Ireland  among 
the  Kerry  mountains.  The  country  is  rough  and  the  soil  poor. 
The  climate  is  moist  and  fairly  temperate. 

The  origin  of  the  Kerry  is  as  uncertain  as  that  of  other  British 
breeds.  From  time  immemorial  it  has  been  bred  in  Ireland, 
where  it  is  known  as  the  "poor  man's  cow."  The  opinion  of 
British  students  is  that  this  is  a  descendant  from  the  smaller 
type  of  aboriginal  cattle  of  that  country,  of  the  same  character 
as  the  dark-colored  cattle  of  Britain.  Nothing  more  is  known. 
The  development  of  the  breed  has  mainly  rested  with  the  Irish 
farmers  or  tenants,  who  keep  but  small  herds. 

Characteristics  of  the  Kerry.  There  are  two  types  of  Kerry 
cattle,  —  the  "true  Kerry,"  which  is  usually  black,  and  a  smaller 
type  known  as  the  "  Dexter-Kerry." 

The  true  Kerry  is  a  small  breed  of  dairy  cattle.  The  color  is 
black,  though  red  sometimes  occurs.  White  may  occur  about  the 
udder  or  scrotum,  but  is  not  desirable.  The  lean  head  carries 
upstanding  slender  white  horns  with  black  tips.  With  cows  the 
neck  is  slender  and  long,  the  body  of  moderate  proportions,  the 
legs  fine  and  long,  and  the  udder  large  with  medium-sized  teats. 
In  size  this  is  one  of  the  small  breeds  ;  the  cows  often  weigh 
from  500  to  600  pounds,  and  frequently  do  not  exceed  40  inches 
high.    The  bulls  are  larger,  weighing  800  to  1000  pounds. 

The  Dexter-Kerry  is  of  unknown  cross.  Some  authorities 
think  that  a  Mr.  Dexter  nearly  a  century  ago  developed  the  breed 
by  crossing  Kerries  on  other  stock.  Some  others  regard  it  as 
a  result  of  selection.  This  type  is  more  blocky,  shorter  legged, 
heavier  of  head  and  neck,  and  more  beefy  in  type  than  the  true 
Kerry,  and,  as  seen  by  the  author,  much  smaller.  The  color 
also  is  variable,   being  black,   red,  or  roan.    There  are  wider 

303 


304  CATTLE 

variations  among  the  Dexter-Kerry  branch  than  in  the  true 
Kerry.  In  each  case  the  udder  is  unusually  well  developed, 
showing  large  capacity  in  proportion  to  size  of  body. 

The  size  of  the  Kerry  is  small,  the  Dexter  being  the  smallest 
of  any  British  breed.  The  following  are  given  as  measurements 
of  a  celebrated  Kerry  bull,  Busaco,  shown  as  a  two-year-old  at 
the  Paris  Exposition  in  1878:  height  at  withers,  34  inches; 
length  from  withers  to  tail  end,  38  inches  ;  heart  girth,  50 
inches.  In  1900  the  Dexter-Kerry  bull  La  Mancha  Union 
Jack  was  shown  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  Show  of 
England  at   York.     He  was  a  two-year-old,  red  in  color,  stood 


^1^                ,  J                   J 

■  ^jB .  '•'v:'''W;"mJj'y   Jl" 

tb&       ''•-■-  ■■  =  "■'    1-:^'^. 

Fig.  135.    A  pair  of  Kerry  cows  shown  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society 
Show  at  Manchester,  England,  in  1897.    Photograph  by  the  author 

about  36  inches  high,  and  weighed  about  400  pounds  as  esti- 
mated by  the  author.  As  champion  of  the  breed  and  a  famous 
prize  winner  he  attracted  much  attention,  a  special  inspection 
being  made  by  the  Prince  of  Wales,  now  Edward  VII.  The  cele- 
brated Dexter-Kerry  show  cow  Red  Rose  weighed  762  pounds. 
The  Kerry  as  a  milk  producer  ranks  high.  The  cow  Red 
Rose,  already  referred  to,  yielded  in  one  year  nearly  10,000 
pounds  of  milk.  Messrs.  William  and  James  Macdonald,  in 
reporting  on  the  Kerry  cattle  shown  at  the  1878  Paris  Expo- 
sition, state  that  twelve  quarts  of  milk  daily  during  the  season, 
and  from  six  to  seven  pounds  of  butter  a  week  are  the  esti- 
mated yields  of  a  Kerry  cow,  and  that  cows  have  been  known 
to  give  sixteen  quarts  every  day  for  some  time  after  calving. 
The  quality  of  the  milk  is  also  superior,  being  rich  in  fat. 


THE  KERRY 


3°5 


The  Kerry  as  a  beef  producer  may  rank  high  as  to  quality,  but 
low  as  to  quantity.  The  general  evidence  in  behalf  of  the  breed, 
notably  the  Dexter,  is  that 
the  beef  is  of  superior 
quality,  and  that  the  steers 
dress  out  remarkably  well. 
The  true  Kerry,  however, 
being  of  the  dairy  type, 
produces  a  class  of  beef 
of  minor  importance  at 
best.  A  few  steers  of  the 
breed  are  usually  shown  at 
the  Smithfield  Club  Show 
in  London  each  year,  com- 
ing in  a  special  class  for 
small  cross-breds.  At  the 
1 90 1  Birmingham  Fat 
Stock  Show  the  first- 


Fig.  136.  La  Mancha  Union  Jack  37,  a  noted 
Dexter-Kerry  bull,  two  years  old,  standing 
about  36  inches  high,  that  was  champion 
at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  Show  at 
York,  England,  in  1900.  Photograph  by 
the  author 


prize  Kerry  weighed  840  pounds  at  eighteen  months  old. 
The  grazing  value  of  the  Kerry  is  very  high.    This  breed  has 

been  developed  under  adverse  food  conditions,  and  thrives  on  com- 
paratively poor  rations.  It  well 
serves  the  purpose  of  furnishing 
the  poor  Irish  laborer  a  maximum 
of  return  for  a  minimum  of  ex- 
penditure. 

The  hardy  character  of  the 
Kerry  is  famous  wherever  the 
breed  is  known.  During  the  en- 
tire year  it  is  necessary  for  the 
Irish  cotter's  cow  to  adapt  herself 
to  conditions  of  privation,  includ- 
ing the  inclemency  of  winter. 

The  maturing  characteristics 
of  the  Kerry  are  of  an  inferior 
order.  As  bred  in  Ireland  Kerries 

grow  slowly,  the  cows  producing  the  first  calf  considerably  later 

than  with  other  breeds.    Dr.  Miles  states  that  in  Ireland  heifers 


Fig.  137.  A  Dexter- Kerry  cow  at  the 
Royal  Agricultural  College,  Ciren- 
cester, England.  Photograph  by 
the  author 


306  CATTLE 

do  not  breed  until  six  or  seven  years  old,  due  to  a  scanty  supply 
of  coarse  food  and  slow  growth,  while  in  Massachusetts,  under 
more  favorable  conditions,  they  breed  in  three  years. 

The  Kerry  in  cross-breeding  has  attracted  considerable  atten- 
tion. Shorthorn  bulls  have  been  extensively  used  on  Kerries 
in  Ireland,  to  the  material  welfare  of  the  country.  James  Mac- 
donald,  editor  of  the  Farmers  Gazette,  Dublin,  writing  in  the 
Journal  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  says  : 

A  good  many  Kerries  are  brought  in,  and  from  these  and  Shorthorn  bulls 
stock  of  wonderful  size  and  quality  are  bred.  Indeed,  I  have  seen  steers  at 
Carton,  crosses  between  small  Kerry  cows  and  Shorthorn  bulls,  which  in  shape 
and  size  showed  but  little  inferiority  to  highly  graded  Shorthorns. 

According  to  British  authors  Aberdeen  Angus  and  Hereford 
bulls  on  Kerry  cows  have  also  produced  very  excellent  steers. 
The  Kerry  male  cannot  be  used  to  so  good  advantage  in  cross- 
ing on  the  beef  breeds. 

The  distribution  of  the  Kerry  is  not  general.  Even  in  Ire- 
land, where  it  is  commonly  bred,  the  Shorthorn  is  the  leading 
breed.  It  has  been  taken  up  as  a  fad  by  the  English  nobility, 
and  small  herds  are  found  in  various  parts  of  England,  kept 
rather  for  fancy  purposes.  A  few  Kerries  have  been  exported 
to  Australia,  South  Africa,  Canada,  and  the  United  States. 
A  small  herd  is  kept  by  Mr.  G.  M.  Carnochan  of  New  York 
City,  who  imported  and  exhibited  a  bull  and  four  females  at 
the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis  in  1904.  The 
Honorable  Whitelaw  Reid  of  New  York  for  some  years  has  also 
kept  a  small  herd  of  Kerries.  Years  ago  a  few  were  taken  to  New 
England.    A  few  cattle  of  the  breed  are  also  kept  in  Illinois. 

A  Kerry  cattle  organization  has  been  in  existence  for  several 
years  in  Ireland.  In  1887  a  register  was  started  by  the  owners 
of  the  Farmers  Gazette  in  Dublin,  which  soon  after  was  turned 
over  to  the  Royal  Dublin  Society,  which  issued  the  first  vol- 
ume of  the  Kerry  and  Dexter  Herdbook  in  1890.  In  1892  a 
Kerry  and  Dexter-Kerry  Cattle  Society  was  formed,  which 
now  attends  to  registration  and  herdbook  publication. 


CHAPTER  XLI 

DUAL-PURPOSE  TYPE  OF  CATTLE 

Dual-purpose  and  general-purpose  type  of  cattle  mean  the  same 
thing.  This  comes  in  between  the  beef  and  dairy  type,  combin- 
ing in  one  animal  the  valuable  qualities  of  meat  and  dairy  types. 
This  class  has  been  under  special  discussion  for  some  years,  and 
strong  arguments  have  been  advanced  in  its  behalf.  It  is  not 
proposed  to  go  into  a  detailed  discussion  of  this  type,  —  it  is 
not  necessary, — but  rather  to  emphasize  the  essential  features. 

The  dual-purpose  and  the  beef  type  compared  show  certain 
marked  differences.  The  dual-purpose  animal  lacks  the  width 
and  smoothness  of  the  beef  type,  carries  less  flesh,  shows  more 
neck,  narrower  withers,  and  more  length  of  leg.  There  is  more 
general  length  of  body.  With  the  cows  the  udder  is  most  essen- 
tial in  true  specimens  of  the  dual-purpose  type,  milk  production 
being  important. 

The  dual-purpose  and  dairy  type  compared  show  the  former 
to  be  fuller  in  the  bosom,  more  massive,  broader  backed,  thicker 
at  withers,  smoother  of  shoulder,  thicker  and  heavier  at  hind 
quarter  and  twist,  and  tending  to  shortness  of  leg.  The  form 
is  generally  smoother  and  much  less  angular,  and  carries  more 
flesh.  When  in  high  milk  flow  dual-purpose  cows  often  lose  flesh 
and  incline  to  the  dairy  conformation,  but  on  drying  off  they 
flesh  up  to  a  notable  degree. 

Two  classes  of  dual-purpose  cattle  are  common,  one  rather 
beefy  in  character,  with  small  udders,  the  other  with  strong 
dairy-type  indications.  Every  large  show  of  dual-purpose  breeds 
contains  good  representatives  of  these  two  classes.  For  exam- 
ple, the  Devon,  a  dual-purpose  breed,  contains  the  two  classes 
in  a  marked  degree.  The  dairy  sort  is  more  popular  in  the  east- 
ern states,  the  beef  in  the  West.  The  same  applies  to  a  certain 
extent  also  to  the  Red  Polled  breed,  though  perhaps  not  to  so 

307 


308  CATTLE 

great  a  degree  as  with  the  Devon.  In  the  Shorthorn  breed  we 
have  the  most  approved  beef  type  of  cattle,  while  a  dual-purpose 
type  of  this  breed,  with  strong  dairy  tendencies,  is  very  common 
in  England  and  not  rare  in  America.  By  combining  beef  and 
milk  in  a  really  noteworthy  degree  the  dual  purpose  is  secured. 
Minus  the  one  or  the  other,  the  animal  logically  must  be  classed 
with  the  beef  or  dairy  type. 

The  demand  for  dual-purpose  cattle  is  extremely  widespread 
in  this  country.  Many  farmers  greatly  prefer  a  type  of  cow  that 
will  produce  a  liberal  supply  of  milk,  that  will  fatten  easily  to 
meet  the  demands  of  the  butcher,  and  will  also  produce  calves 
that  will  feed  into  superior  veals  or  steers.  In  regions  where 
dairying  is  not  a  specialty  the  dual-purpose  type  is  quite  com- 
monly seen  in  the  Shorthorn  of  milking  strain.  Notwithstanding 
the  frequency  with  which  cattle  of  this  type  are  seen,  there 
are  comparatively  few  animals  of  the  dual-purpose  breeds  to  be 
found  in  America.  Our  farmers  do  not  seem  to  want  to  pay  the 
price  necessary  to  obtain  the  pure-breds  of  merit. 

The  relationship  of  size  to  dual-purpose  type  is  a  minor  con- 
sideration. It  has  been  stated  that  dual-purpose  cattle  average 
larger  than  dairy  cattle.  This  is  not  necessarily  so.  The  Dexter- 
Kerry  breed  belongs  to  the  dual-purpose  type,  and  is  one  of  the 
smallest  breeds  known.  One  Dexter-Kerry  cow  photographed 
by  the  writer  probably  did  not  stand  much  over  forty-four  inches 
high.  She  was  smooth  all  over,  distinctly  beefy,  with  a  very 
large  udder. 


CHAPTER  XLII 

THE  RED  POLLED 

The  native  home  of  Red  Polled  cattle  is  in  England,  in 
the  counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  which  border  the  North 
Sea  and  comprise  the  most  easterly  part  of  England.  The  coun- 
try is  rolling,  with  some  marshlands,  and  furnishes  good  grazing 
and  live-stock  conditions,  although  parts  of  Norfolk  have  poor, 
thin  land.  The  climate  is  fairly  temperate  and  moist,  character- 
istic of  England. 

The  origin  of  Red  Polled  cattle  is  differently  interpreted  by 
live-stock  writers.  Culley  thought  them  descended  from  the  Gal- 
loway type,  and  was  the  first  to  suggest  this  source,  although 
the  two  breeds  materially  differ.  Others  have  attributed  the 
ancestry  to  the  wild  white  polled  sort.  Mr.  Euren,  the  organ- 
izer of  Red  Polled  interests  abroad,  has  suggested  that  the 
breed  was  derived  from  the  polled  cattle  of  southern  Europe,  as, 
for  example,  Hungary  or  central  Russia  where  cattle  possessed 
the  soft  satiny  skin  of  the  Red  Polled,  rather  than  from  the  Gal- 
loway with  its  heavy,  long  coat  and  thicker  hide.  The  fact  is, 
the  breed  has  developed,  like  other  British  breeds,  from  material 
which  passes  beyond  historical  record.  We  do  know,  however, 
that  the  present-day  Red  Polled  breed  consists  of  an  amalgama- 
tion of  the  following  two  types  or  varieties. 

I.  Suffolk  Red  Polled.  The  county  of  Suffolk  lies  just  south 
of  Norfolk.  The  northeast  part  of  this,  sometimes  designated 
as  East  Anglia,  was  settled  in  the  fifth  century  by  Scandina- 
vians, and  it  is  stated  that  they  brought  with  them  cattle.  In 
this  section  of  Suffolk,  only  twelve  by  twenty  miles,  and  later 
in  the  entire  county  as  well  as  in  Norfolk,  developed  a  polled 
breed  that  became  famous  for  milk  production.  In  1734  John 
Kirby,  in  the  Suffolk  Traveller,  wrote  of  the  butter  produced  in 
this  district  as  "the  best  and  pleasantest  in  England."    These 

309 


3io 


CATTLE 


cattle  were  small,  naturally  thin  of  flesh,  and  were  either  red, 
brindled,  or  dun  colored  and  always  polled.  Arthur  Young  in 
1794,  in  a  general  survey  of  the  agriculture  of  Suffolk,  describes 
the  breed  at  some  length.  He  stated  that  for  two  or  three 
months  a  whole  herd  would  average  five  gallons  of  milk  a  day 
per  head,  and  single  animals  have  produced  eight  gallons  in  a 
day.  From  1778  on,  numerous  advertisements  of  auction  sales 
of  this  dairy  stock  were  published  in  the  Norwich  (Norfolk) 
Mercury.  In  1802  a  herd  of  "  twenty-one  beautiful  polled  cows 
and  a  bull"  was  advertised. 

2.  Norfolk  Red  Polled.  In  Norfolk  County  early  writers 
referred  to  a  type  of  cattle,  blood-red  in  color,  with  a  white  or 
mottled  face,  having  horns,  small  of  bone,  "  fattening  as  freely 
and  finishing  as  highly  at  three  years  old  as  cattle  do  generally 
at  four  or  five,"  says  Marshall,  who  regarded  the  Norfolk  Red 
Polled  as  a  miniature  Hereford  in  appearance.  These  possessed 
poor  dairy  qualities,  so  Jonas  Reeve  of  Wigton  and  Richard 
England  of  Binham  began  to  improve  and  secure  a  type  com- 
bining the  good  qualities  of  the  Suffolk  as  well  as  the  Norfolk. 
A  Mr.  George  also  took  part  in  this  improvement.  They  bred 
to  produce  a  solid  red  color,  perhaps  using  the  Devon,  which 
existed  in  the  county,  bred  off  the  horns,  no  doubt  with  the  help 
of  Suffolk  bulls,  and  so  developed  a  dual-purpose  type  which 
attained  considerable  fame.  In  18 18  the  name  Norfolk  Polled 
began  to  come  into  use. 

The  amalgamation  of  Suffolk  and  Norfolk  Red  Polled  cattle 
was  the  result  of  gradually  developing  the  two  breeds  into  a 
common  type.  Each  was  improved  with  the  view  of  securing 
an  easy-keeping,  hornless,  red-colored,  dual-purpose  animal.  The 
types  of  each  county  were  shown  for  a  time  at  the  local  fairs,  but 
they  gradually  came  to  be  of  the  same  general  character.  The  year 
1846,  according  to  Mr.  Euren,  the  secretary  of  the  Red  Polled 
Cattle  Association  in  England,  may  be  taken  as  the  date  from 
which  the  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  varieties  merged  into  each  other, 
so  as  to  be  spoken  of  as  one  and  the  same  breed.  Finally,  in 
1862,  an  international  exposition  was  held  at  Battersea,  when  a 
large  exhibit  was  made  in  one  class  from  both  Norfolk  and  Suf- 
folk.    It  was  then  that  the  improved  form  in  each  county  was 


THE  RED  POLLED  311 

recognized  as  of  the  same  kind,  and  given  the  name  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk  Red  Polled.  About  1882  this  was  shortened  to 
Red  Polled,  by  which  name  the  breed  is  now  recognized. 

Groups  and  tribes  of  Red  Polled  cattle  gradually  developed 
from  the  various  lines  of  breeding.  The  first  volume  of  the 
herdbook  classes  the  united  breed  into  twenty-five  groups  of 
foundation  stock,  each  indicated  by  a  letter  of  the  alphabet,  as 
A,  B,  C,  etc.,  and  these  including  numerous  tribes  or  families. 


Fig.  138.  Demon  5421  (A  1),  one  of  the  greatest  Red  Polled  bulls  in  American 
show-yard  history.  Bred  by  J.  W.  Martin  of  Wisconsin,  he  was  shown 
by  Andrew  Bros,  of  Ohio  from  1898  to  1904  at  the  leading  shows  of  the 
country.  Twice  champion  of  the  breed  at  the  International  Live  Stock 
Exposition,  Chicago,  and  repeatedly  grand  champion  Red  Polled  bull 
at  leading  state  fairs.  Owned  by  the  Ohio  State  University.  Photo- 
graph by  the  author 

The  first  volume  gave  233  tribes,  and  later  these  increased  to 
385,  but  at  present  only  about  200  tribes  are  represented  in 
the  registration.  While  the  group  will  remain  the  same  in  letter 
the  tribes  naturally  vary  in  number.  The  method  has  an  advan- 
tage in  studying  pedigrees,  for  with  it  the  group  and  tribe 
relationship  is  shown.  The  groups  made  up  certain  foundation 
herds.  For  example,  the  A  group  comprises  the  cows  in  the 
Elmham  herd,  or  owned  by  tenants  of  the  estate  of  that  name ; 
the  B  group,  the  cows  in  the  Biddell  herds  and  others  in  the 


312 


CATTLE 


vicinity,  etc.  Thus  Ai  refers  to  a  foundation  cow  in  the  Elm- 
ham  herd  named  Primrose;  Bio  to  a  cow  in  the  Manfred 
Biddell  herd  named  Bury,  etc.  Differing  from  other  cattle  asso- 
ciations, the  registration  number  of  the  cow  precedes  the  name, 
as  421  Primrose  Ai,  while  the  number  of  the  bull  follows  his 
name  in  the  customary  manner.  None  of  the  above  groups 
trace  far  back  of  the  first  volume  of  the  herdbook,  some  being 
comparatively  recent. 

The  introduction  of  Red  Polled  cattle  to  America  no  doubt 
first  occurred  in  colonial  times  in  English  settlements,  as,  for 
example,  in  Virginia.  Mulley  or  polled  cattle  of  a  red  or  red  and 
white  color,  similar  to  Red  Polled,  have  been  known  in  the  east- 
ern United  States  for  over  a  century.  In  1 847  a  Suffolk  polled 
heifer  was  presented  to  the  captain  of  the  vessel  Jamestown, 
that  took  provisions  to  Ireland  to  relieve  famine,  and  she  was 
brought  to  Massachusetts.  From  her  descended  a  line  of  stock, 
termed  Jamestown  cattle  in  Massachusetts,  that  produced  polled 
animals  of  superior  character.  In  1873  G.  F.  Taber  of  Patter- 
son, New  York,  made  the  first  importation  of  breeding  Red  Polled 
cattle  to  this  country,  consisting  of  a  bull  and  three  heifers,  and 
later  in  1875  four  more  cows,  and  again  in  1882  three  bulls 
and  twenty-three  heifers.  Also  in  1882  Mead  &  Kimball  of  Ver- 
mont brought  over  a  bull  and  eleven  females,  and  in  1883  G.  P. 
Squires  of  New  York  and  Geldard  &  Busk,  an  English  firm,  made 
importations.  In  1886  J.  McLain  Smith  of  Ohio  made  his  first 
importation,  and  until  his  death  in  1905  he  was  a  prominent 
advocate  of  the  breed.  Captain  V.  T.  Hills,  also  of  Ohio,  a 
leading  American  authority  on  the  breed,  imported  in  1887. 

Red  Polled  characteristics.  Animals  of  this  breed  present  the 
dual-purpose  type  in  its  truest  form,  for  good  specimens  yield 
milk  liberally  and  fatten  satisfactorily  on  drying  off,  producing 
a  good  grade  of  beef.  The  head  is  lean  in  type,  and  presents 
the  characteristic  poll.  The  neck  of  both  bull  and  cow  lacks 
the  fullness  of  the  beef  breeds,  the  cows  being  notably  thinner 
in  this  respect.  The  withers  are  only  moderately  broad,  and 
the  shoulders  resemble  those  of  the  Shorthorn  rather  than  the 
Hereford.  The  body  is  usually  very  well  ribbed  and  the  back 
strong,  but  is  not  fleshed  over  in  a  prominent  degree.     The  hips 


THE  RED   POLLED 


3*3 


or  hooks  lack  prominence  and  so  smooth  over  easily  in  fatten- 
ing. The  hind  quarter  presents  the  thinner  beef  form,  as  shown 
in  the  leaner  rump,  thinner  thigh,  and  shallower  twist.  The 
udder  tends  to  be  of  the  pendent  sort,  the  fore  part  being 
frequently  deficient,  while  large  teats  are  common  ;  in  fact,  the 
writer  has  seen  larger  teats  with  Red  Polled  cattle  than  with  any 
other  breed.  The  udders  do  not  often  show  a  meaty  character, 
but  are  mellow  and  elastic  in  quality.     Fair  milk  veins  and  wells 


Fig.  139.  Patriarch  6482,  a  Red  Polled  bull,  bred  by  Captain  V.  T.  Hills, 
Delaware,  Ohio.  At  three  years  of  age  this  bull  weighed  2460  pounds. 
Photograph  by  the  author 

obtain  ;  in  fact,  Arthur  Young  commented,  over  a  century  ago, 
on  the  large  size  of  the  Suffolk  cow's  milk  veins,  and  some  of 
this  inheritance  still  exists.  The  quality  of  the  breed  may  be 
classed  as  fair,  not  generally  surpassing  other  breeds.  The  color 
varies  from  light  to  dark  red,  a  medium  shade  being  most  com- 
mon. A  little  white  on  the  udder  or  belly,  with  white  brush  of 
tail,  is  permissible,  but  solid  red  is  and  long  has  been  preferred. 
In  size  this  breed  is  about  medium,  although  large  specimens 
naturally  occur,  and  some  breeders  prefer  as  large  a  type  as 
they  can  produce.    In  temperament  Red  Polled  cattle  are  more 


314  CATTLE 

nervous  than  Shorthorns,  but  are  not  enough  so  to  offer  any 
important  objection  to  the  breed. 

The  weight  of  Red  Polled  cattle  is  medium,  not  equaling  the 
heavy  beef  breeds,  although  heavy  specimens  occur.  For  exam- 
ple, the  bull  Patriarch  6482  U43  weighed  at  full  maturity  as 
high  as  2600  pounds.  The  show  bull  Demon  5421  Ai,  owned 
by  the  Ohio  State  University,  weighed  2100  pounds  in  his  best 
form.  Pando  1254,  1 13,  the  well-known  bull  imported  by  Cap- 
tain V.  T.  Hills  of  Ohio,  weighed,  when  five  years  old,  2270 
pounds.  Wild  Roy  1105,  Vi,  also  imported  by  Captain  Hills, 
at  five  years  weighed  2480  pounds.  A  range  of  from  1800  to 
2200  pounds  will  apply  to  typical  mature  males  of  the  breed. 
Cows  weigh  from  1100  to  1600  pounds,  or  even  more,  1250  to 
1 300  being  a  fair  average. 

Red  Polled  cattle  as  beef  producers  hold  very  good  rank. 
While  as  a  rule  they  do  not  win  the  highest  honors  in  open 
competition  in  the  great  beef  show  rings,  they  feed  to  a  point 
of  profitable  production  for  the  stockman,  and  make  a  very  good 
class  of  beef  for  the  consumer.  This  beef  is  not  usually  so  fat 
as  that  produced  by  some  breeds,  the  outside  of  the  frame  not 
being  so  heavily  covered.  Red  Polled  steers  also  tend  to  be 
somewhat  long  of  leg.  Numerous  cases  may  be  cited  to  show 
that  the  steers  gain  rapidly  and  show  well.  At  the  1889  Smith- 
field  Club  Show  two  Red  Polled  two-year-old  steers  showed 
the  largest  daily  gain  of  anything  on  exhibition  of  that  class, 
viz.  2.18  and  2.29  pounds  each.  One  of  these  afterwards  was 
made  champion  as  the  best  steer  on  exhibition  at  the  Norfolk 
Fat  Stock  Show.  At  the  Smithfield  show  in  1890  a  Red  Polled 
steer  dressed  73.72  per  cent,  the  highest  per  cent  dressed  out 
at  the  show.  In  1899  the  London  and  Norwich  Red  Polled 
breed  cup  winner  at  32  months  weighed  1708  pounds,  showing 
a  gain  for  the  year  of  452  pounds,  or  35.98  per  cent.  The 
reserve  for  the  breed  cup  was  a  heifer  that  at  863  days  had  a 
live  weight  of  1436  pounds.  In  1900  the  cup  winner  at  both 
of  the  above  shows  was  a  heifer  weighing  1578  pounds  at  331 
months.  At  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition  at  Chi- 
cago in  1904  the  Red  Polled  steer  Pompy,  in  the  two-year-old 
class,  weighed  1680  pounds  alive,  and  showed  a  dressed  weight 


THE  RED  POLLED 


315 


in  the  slaughter  test  of  1005  pounds,  dressing  64.0  per  cent. 
Red  Polled  steers  in  good  flesh  on  the  open  market  are  quite 
sure  to  make  a  creditable  showing  and  bring  a  fair  price. 

Red  Polled  cattle  as  milk  producers  have  long  held  high  rank, 
and  a  large  number  of  records  might  be  cited  to  show  the  value 
of  the  breed  in  the  dairy.  In  public  tests  the  breed  has  stood 
well.  At  the  Pan-American  dairy  test  in  1901  five  Red  Polled 
cows  took  fifth  rank  among  ten  breeds,  showing  a  net  profit  of 
$201.61  for  six  months.     Among  the  50  cows  tested,  the  cow 


Fig.  140.  10097  Chloe  (Ti ),  second-prize  Red  Polled  cow  in  general  class  and  in 
farmer's  cow  class  at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition,  1903.  Official 
test  for  330  days  7924  pounds  milk  and  336.58  pounds  butter  fat.  Owned 
by  the  late  J.  McLain  Smith,  Dayton,  Ohio.    Photograph  by  the  author 

8025  Mayflower  2d,  A 12,  stood  second,  producing  6 161  pounds 
milk  and  323  pounds  estimated  butter,  showing  a  net  profit  in  the 
fat  test  of  $52.10.  Many  cows  of  the  breed  will  produce  5000 
pounds  of  milk  a  year.  The  following  table  shows  the  yearly  aver- 
age yields  of  the  herd  of  Lord  Rothschild  at  Tring  Park,  England, 
as  giving  an  example  of  what  a  superior  herd  can  accomplish. 


Year 

Number  Weeks 

Number  Cows 

Average  Yield  Milk 

1898-1899 
I 899- I 900 
I 900- I 90 I 

53 
52 
52 

36 
34 
43 

7033.45  lb. 

6520.00    " 

6895.76    " 

1 — 

316 


CATTLE 


In  1903  fifteen  herds  contributed  records  of  their  daily  milk  yield 
to  the  English  Red  Polled  Society  Herdbook.  Of  267  cows  which 
had  produced  in  the  year,  having  had  their  second  calf  or  more, 
194  gave  a  total  yield  for  the  year  of  5000  pounds  and  over. 
Thirteen  of  these  gave  9000  pounds  and  over,  the  best  record 
being  10,392  pounds.  The  cow  2965  Mayflower,  A 12,  in  the 
herd  of  V.  T.  Hills  of  Ohio,  produced  from  July  18,  1892,  to 
July  10,  1893,  a  total  of  11,008  pounds  of  milk;  while  for  four 
years,  from  August  1,  1890,  to  July  31,  1894,  she  produced 
43,  n8i  pounds  of  milk,  or  a  daily  average  of  about  25  pounds. 
The  London  Live  Stock  Journal  in  1898  published  the  milk 
record  of  a  Red  Polled  cow  of  13,126  pounds  in  347  days,  an 
average  of  37.82  pounds  daily.  This  same  journal  also  reports  on 
the  Red  Polled  cow  Hester  that  from  October,  1890,  to  October, 
1904,  produced  the  remarkable  yield  of  84,177  pounds  of  milk, 
an  average  yield  for  fourteen  years  of  6012  pounds  per  year. 
This  was  also  a  very  successful  show  cow  in  England. 

Red  Polled  cattle  as  butter  producers  stand  very  well.  Their 
milk  tests  about  3.8  per  cent  fat,  although  many  cases  show  even 
better.  The  average  of  Mayflower  for  four  years  by  Babcock 
test  is  4.35  per  cent  butter  fat.  At  the  Pan-American  Exposition 
the  five  Red  Polled  cows  produced  in  six  months  1319.45  pounds 
churned  butter  valued  at  $329.86,  with  Mayflower  2d  second  in 
the  butter-fat  test.  In  this  test  the  average  butter-fat  content  was 
3.98  per  cent.  Professor  Curtiss  of  the  Iowa  Agricultural  College 
has  stated  that  a  number  of  Red  Polled  cows  in  the  college  herd 
were  producing  from  300  to  400  pounds  of  butter  per  year.  In 
1904  a  cow  in  the  herd  of  the  Ohio  State  University  was  milked 
348  days  and  produced  8777  pounds  of  milk,  which  by  Babcock 
test  showed  379  pounds  butter  fat,  equal  to  about  440  pounds 
commercial  butter. 

The  use  of  the  Red  Polled  cattle  in  crossing  or  grading  may  be 
beneficial  from  either  the  beef  or  dairy  point  of  view.  Red  Polled 
bulls  used  on  the  beef  type  should  increase  the  milk-producing 
character  of  the  descendants,  but  may  lower  the  meat  standard 
somewhat.  Used  on  the  dairy  breeds,  the  beef  character  should 
be  improved  in  the  offspring,  but  whether  the  dairy  qualities  will 
be  benefited  will  depend  on  the  kind  of  dam  used,  better  results 


THE  RED   POLLED  317 

coming  where  a  small  milker  is  mated  rather  than  a  large  pro- 
ducer. Red  Polled  cattle  are  very  prepotent,  and  will  transmit 
their  red  color  and  polled  heads  with  much  uniformity  when  used 
on  other  breeds  or  grades. 

The  deficiencies  of  the  Red  Polled  cattle  are  not  serious,  but 
they  exist.  The  udder,  with  all  its  capacity,  is  too  irregular  in 
type,  often  being  deficient  in  front,  and  with  abnormally  large 


- 


Fig.  141.  2965  Mayflower  (A  12),  a  Red  Polled  cow  of  dairy  type,  noted  as  the 
founder  of  the  Mayflower  family.  This  cow  gave  11,008  pounds  of  milk  from 
July  18,  1892,  to  July  10,  1893,  an(l  43>II8j  pounds  of  milk  in  four  years 
from  July  1,  1890,  to  July  31,  1894.  Owned  by  Captain  V.  T.  Hills,  Dela- 
ware, Ohio.    Photograph  from  Captain  Hills 

teats,  too  large  to  be  comfortably  grasped  in  the  hands.  Com- 
parison of  the  form  of  udder  on  cows  of  this  breed  with  that  of 
the  Ayrshire  shows  it  to  be  distinctly  inferior.  The  Red  Polled 
breed  also  lacks  uniformity  of  type,  some  persons  selecting  along 
beef  lines  and  others  along  dairy  lines.  This  is  a  general  difficulty 
existing,  however,  among  dual-purpose  breeds,  and  is  rather  due 
to  the  variations  in  the  standards  of  the  breeders.  There  is  a 
constant  tendency  to  produce  either  for  beef  or  for  dairy  purposes. 


3i8 


CATTLE 


The  distribution  of  Red  Polled  cattle  is  widespread,  yet  the 
breed  cannot  be  regarded  as  common.  In  Britain  it  is  mainly 
bred  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  counties,  although  large  herds  exist 
elsewhere,  and  considerable  milk  is  shipped  to  London  from 
Red  Polled  herds.  Specimens  of  the  breed  have  been  exported 
from  England  to  Russia,  South  Africa,  Australia,  New  Zealand, 
Canada,  and  the  United  States.  In  the  United  States  it  is 
pretty  well  distributed,  mainly  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  as 
far  south  as  Texas.  The  more  prominent  herds  are  found  in 
Ohio,  Wisconsin,  Illinois,  and  Iowa.  The  breed  is  fairly  well 
adapted  to  a  wide  range  of  climate,  comparable  perhaps  with 
temperate  latitudes. 

Organizations  to  promote  Red  Polled  cattle  interests  exist  in 
England  and  the  United  States.  Through  the  efforts  of  Mr. 
Henry  F.  Euren,  a  herdbook  was  published  in  England  in  1874, 
and  this  work  he  continued  until  1888  when  the  Red  Polled 
Society  of  England  was  organized.  The  American  Red  Polled 
Cattle  Club  was  organized  in  1883  at  Chicago.  In  1887  the 
first  American  herdbook  appeared.  This  contained  also  the 
registrations  in  the  first  six  volumes  of  the  English  society. 
Since  that  period,  up  to  1901  inclusive,  the  American  herdbook 
has  also  contained  the  registrations  of  the  English  book,  thus 
including  all  Red  Polled  registrations  in  England  and  America. 
At  present  only  American-owned  animals  are  recorded  in  the 
American  herdbook,  which  up  to  1905  included  16  volumes  and 


22,238  animals  registered. 


CHAPTER  XLIII 

THE    DEVON 

The  native  home  of  the  Devon  breed  of  cattle  is  in  southwestern 
England  in  the  counties  of  Devon  and  Somerset.  Devon  is 
washed  by  the  sea  on  its  north  and  south  borders,  while 
Somerset  also  borders  the  Bristol  Channel  on  the  north.  The 
section  contains  much  rough  and  hilly  land,  reaching  a  height  of 
even  2000  feet,  and  is  better  suited  to  grazing  than  tillage,  though 
the  soil  is  fertile.  In  the  southern  part  the  climate  is  mild  and 
balmy,  being  well  suited  to  outdoor  life  for  cattle  the  year  round. 

The  origin  of  the  Devon  is  prehistoric.  It  has  been  assumed 
that  the  breed  is  descended  from  Bos  longifrons,  the  smaller  type 
of  aboriginal  cattle  in  Britain.  The  earliest  English  records  show 
the  prevalence  of  cattle  in  Devon  of  a  color  and  type  indicative 
of  the  modern  breed.  The  early  British  writers  on  live  stock 
testify  to  its  ancient  character. 

The  early  improvers  of  the  Devon  were  Francis  Quartly  and 
his  brothers  William  and  Henry,  and  John  Tanner  Davy  and  his 
brother  William.  Besides  these  J.  T.  Davy,  above  referred  to, 
credits  much  to  Merson  and  Michael  Thorn  of  North  Molton,  Tapp 
and  Buckingham  of  Twitchen,  Mogridge  and  Halses  of  Molland, 
and  others,  who  maintained  the  high  character  of  their  herds 
when  breeders  generally,  on  account  of  high  prices,  were  selling 
their  best  stock  for  slaughter  and  keeping  poor  cattle  in  reserve. 

Francis  Quartly  is  generally  conceded  to  have  accomplished 
for  the  Devon  what  the  Collings  did  for  the  Shorthorn.  He  lived 
at  Champson-in-Molland  near  South  Molton,  where  his  father  in 
1776  began  to  breed  Devons.  The  father  died  in  1793  and 
Francis  at  once  began  active  work  as  a  breeder  on  his  own 
responsibility.  The  cattle  of  Devon  were  deteriorating  for  the 
reason  already  given.  He  recognized  this,  and  not  only  refused 
to  sell  but  sought  out  and  purchased  the' choicest  individuals 

3l9 


320 


CATTLE 


possible,  thus  developing  the  best  herd  of  his  time.  From  his 
herd,  which  was  sold  on  his  retirement  in  1836,  has  descended 
the  most  distinguished  Devon  blood.  William  Ouartly  also  had 
a  herd  until  18 16,  when  he  sold  it  to  his  eldest  brother  Henry, 
who  continued  breeding  until  his  death  in  1 840.  Neither  Francis 
nor  William  were  ever  married,  but  Henry  was,  and  left  two 
sons,  James  and  John,  who  succeeded  him.  They  also  became 
great  breeders,  as  did  John's  son,  Henry,  later  on.  The  Quartly 
family  lived  in  North  Devon,  not  far  from  Somerset  County. 


1? 


Fig.  142.    The  Devon  bull  Joker,  a  noted  prize  winner  in  England. 
Photograph  from  L.  P.  Sisson 

John  Tanner  Davy  was  a  son  of  John  Davy,  a  Devon  breeder, 
who  was  born  about  1706  and  died  at  Rose  Ash,  South  Molton, 
North  Devon,  in  1790,  leaving  a  choice  herd  to  two  sons,  John  T. 
and  William.  John  produced  a  celebrated  herd  and  won  many 
prizes.  Numerous  celebrated  Devons  descend  from  his  herd. 
He  died  in  1852  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Colonel  Davy, 
the  founder  of  the  Devon  herdbook.  This  son,  who  died  in  1887, 
aged  fifty-nine,  was  during  his  prime  the  most  distinguished  stu- 
dent and  promoter  of  Devons  in  England.  He  not  only  founded 
the  herdbook  but  contributed  much  to  Devon  literature. 

The  introduction  of  the  Devon  to  America  doubtless  dates 
back  to   colonial  times,  and  perhaps  these  were  the  first  real 


THE  DEVON 


321 


pure-bred  cattle  to  reach  our  shores.  The  port  of  Plymouth,  from 
which  the  early  colonists  and  the  Mayflower  sailed,  is  on  the 
south  shore  of  Devon,  and  the  vessel  CJiarity  which  sailed  in 
1623  is  thought  to  have  had  Devon  cattle  on  board.  Devons  were 
imported  in  1800  to  Massachusetts,  and  in  1805  General  Eaton 
took  some  to  Otsego  County,  New  York.  In  18 17  the  first  pure- 
bred registered  Devons  brought  to  the  United  States  came  over 
in  the  brig  Margaretta  and  were  landed  at  Baltimore.    These  were 


Fig.  143.  Nettle  Top  12989,  grand  champion  Devon  cow  at  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  Exposition,  Portland,  Oregon,  1905.  Exhibited  by  L.V.  McWhorter 
&  Son,  North  Yakima,  Washington.    Photograph  by  the  author 


a  present  from  Mr.  Coke  (later  Earl  of  Leicester),  of  Holkham, 
England,  to  Robert  Patterson  of  Baltimore,  and  consisted  of  six 
two-year-old  heifers  and  a  bull.  These  became  foundation 
animals  in  the  American  Devon  Record.  Other  importations 
were  later  made  by  the  Patterson  family,  and  most  of  the  early 
American  Devons  are  descended  from  the  stock  of  this  family. 
From  1825  to  1850  and  later  many  Devons  were  imported  into 
the  Atlantic  coast  states  and  into  Canada,  and  the  breed  became 
very  well  known. 


322  CATTLE 

Characteristics  of  the  Devon.  The  Devon  is  not  easily  con- 
founded with  other  breeds,  owing  to  its  individuality.  The  color 
is  usually  a  bright  red,  for  which  they  have  been  nicknamed 
"Rubies."  The  shade  varies  from  light  to  dark.  White  is  not 
admissible,  excepting  about  the  udder  of  the  cow,  or  in  front  of 
the  scrotum  of  the  male,  and  not  beyond  the  navel  with  either, 
nor  outside  of  the  flanks  or  elsewhere  on  the  body.  The  hair  about 
the  eyes  and  muzzle  should  be  of  a  creamy  tint  and  the  muzzle 
be  flesh-colored.  In  addition  to  color  as  an  identifying  mark, 
the  head,  horns,  and  neck  have  distinctive  breed  attributes.  The 
head  is  lean  and  cleanly  made,  and,  with  the  female,  is  crowned 
by  a  pair  of  slender  horns  that  are  "long,  spreading  and  grace- 
fully turned  up,  of  a  waxy  color,  tipped  with  a  darker  shade." 
The  bull's  horns  grow  at  right  angles  from  the  head  or  are 
slightly  elevated,  are  stout  and  waxy  at  the  base,  and  are  tipped 
with  a  darker  shade.  The  neck  shows  a  considerable  refinement, 
with  neat  head  and  body  attachment.  The  body  of  the  Devon 
is  medium  in  size,  is  blocky  of  form,  and  usually  carries  a  well- 
sprung  and  deep  rib  with  strong  heart  girth.  The  legs  are  small 
and  show  more  refinement  than  is  the  case  with  some  other  breeds. 
In  fact  typical  Devons  have  often  been  referred  to  as  deerlike  in 
character,  owing  to  the  natural  refinement  of  the  breed. 

Two  types  of  Devons  essentially  exist.  Those  in  north  Devon 
have  always  been  of  the  smaller  form,  and  beef  production  has 
been  emphasized  with  them.  In  south  Devon,  where  the  breed 
is  known  also  as  the  South  Devon  or  South  Hams,  the  cattle 
average  larger,  are  lighter  colored,  tend  to  be  coarser,  and  are 
more  productive  of  milk,  due,  it  is  said,  to  the  blood  of  Guernsey 
cattle.  These  two  types  have  been  more  or  less  intermingled, 
but  the  best  breeders  of  to-day  advocate  adherence  to  type.  Pro- 
fessor Robert  Wallace  in  his  work  on  the  Farm  Live  Stock  of 
Great  Britain  gives  a  third,  a  special  Somerset  type,  found  in 
north  Devon.  These  cattle  are  larger,  have  a  more  droopy  horn, 
and  are  coarser  than  the  north  Devon  type,  due  to  the  better 
soil  and  climate  of  Somerset.  As  exhibited  in  America,  the  breed 
shows  at  a  distinct  disadvantage,  for  in  the  same  show  ring  the 
beefy  type  may  and  does  compete  with  the  dual-purpose  type. 
Western  breeders  appear  to  favor  the  north  Devon  style,  while 


THE  DEVON 


323 


eastern  breeders  lay  emphasis  on  the  dairy  value  of  the  breed, 
as  does,  in  fact,  the  Devon  cattle  association. 

The  size  of  the  Devon  accordingly  shows  considerable  variation. 
Naturally  Devons  are  of  the  smaller  class  as  seen  in  beef-cattle 
classes  in  America,  and  this  is  one  objection  that  has  been  raised 
against  the  breed  in  this  country,  together  with  the  fact  that 
the  steers  will  not  fatten  as  rapidly  as  some  of  the  other  kinds. 
Mature  cows,  according  to  Sinclair,  weigh  from  1300  to  1500 
pounds  and  bulls  from  1500  to  2100. 

The  Devon  as  a  butchers  beast  does  not  attain  the  high  weights 
of  the  common  beef  breeds,  nor  does  it  fatten  as  rapidly  as  some, 
but  kills  out  extremely  well,  with  small  bone  and  moderate  offal, 
producing  the  best  of  beef,  fine  of  grain  and  of  superior  quality. 
Devons  in  the  past  have  made  a  good  record  at  the  British  fat 
stock  shows,  often  winning  high  honors.  This  applies  in  particu- 
lar to  the  beef  type  of  north  Devon.  The  modern  breeders  of 
that  section  agree  that  to  increase  the  size  will  injure  the  quality, 
and  therefore  refuse  to  do  so.  Sinclair  notes  one  English  Devon 
breeder,  whose  specialty  is  steer  breeding,  who  reckons  that  the 
weight  of  a  fat  Devon  steer  a  little  under  three  years  old  should 
be  about  800  pounds.  In  1891  the  first -prize  Devon  steer  at  the 
Smithfield  Club  Show,  London,  "not  exceeding  two  years  old," 
was  558  days  old  and  had  a  live  weight  of  964  pounds. 

Devons  as  milk  producers  rank  very  well.  Many  New  England 
farmers  keep  Devon  grades  or  pure-breds,  from  which  they  often 
secure  fair  yields.  The  milk  is  rich  in  fat,  comparing  favorably 
with  that  of  the  Jerseys.  The  breed  is  essentially  unknown  in 
competitive  dairy  tests  in  this  country.  In  the  American  Devon 
Record  are  numerous  examples  showing  that  many  cows  of  the 
breed  are  ample  dairy  producers.  E.  C.  Bliss  states  that  his  full- 
grown  cows  yield  an  average  of  300  pounds  of  butter  a  year. 
J.  W.  Collins  writes  :  "I  have  one  cow,  Lucky  3784,  that  has 
produced  2\  pounds  of  butter  per  day  for  weeks,  and  I  have 
frequently  had  others  that  have  made  2\  to  2\  pounds  per  day." 
Wallace  states  that  as  a  breed  for  milk  production  "  it  has 
been  and  still  is  inferior.  The  cows  give  but  a  small  quantity 
of  milk  and  tend  to  go  dry  early."  Alvord,  who  knew  the  breed 
well,   states    that    some  families   bred    and    selected    for    dairy 


324 


CATTLE 


purposes  have  made  fair  milk  records,  single  animals  producing 
40  and  even  50  pounds  a  day. 

The  Devon  in  crossing  or  grading  has  seen  much  service  in  the 
eastern  United  States.  Owing  to  its  long  pure  inheritance  the 
breed  characteristics  are  usually  strongly  transmitted.  Devon  bulls 
on  grade  cows  will  produce  a  superior  class  of  beef  and  rich  milk. 

The  Devon  as  a  grazing  beast  has  always  ranked  high.  In  its 
native  home  many  steers  are  grass  fed  and  receive  but  little  grain. 


Fig.  144.  Fern  of  Halsden,  champion  Devon  cow  at  the  Royal  Agricultural 
Society  of  England  Show,  in  1904.  This  shows  the  beefy  type  of  Devon 
Photograph  from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berkhamsted,  England 

Devon  oxen  have  long  ranked  very  high.  In  New  England  and 
the  eastern  United  States,  when  oxen  were  more  extensively  used 
than  to-day,  the  Devon  was  a  favorite  sort.  Years  ago  in  New 
England  one  might  have  seen  many  fine  yokes  of  grade  Devon 
oxen,  that  were  highly  valued  for  intelligent  and  active  draft 
service  on  the  hill  farms.  No  cattle  are  more  light  and  active 
of  foot  for  this  purpose. 

The  distribution  of  Devons  is  almost  world-wide,  although  the 
breed  is  not  nearly  as  popular  to-day  as  it  has  been.  There  are 
some  herds  in  England  outside  of  the  Devon  district,  mainly  in 


THE  DEVON  325 

the  south  section,  in  Ireland,  the  United  States,  Canada,  New 
South  Wales,  Tasmania,  New  Zealand,  Queensland,  Mexico,  the 
West  Indies,  and  South  Africa.  Devons  in  a  general  way  have 
been  distributed  all  over  the  United  States,  but  are  not  in  large 
numbers  in  any  state.  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  New 
England  are  the  foremost  sections  in  Devon  breeding  in  America. 
The  breed  seems  quite  adaptable  either  to  the  rougher,  grazing 
regions,  or  to  the  more  fertile,  low-lying  countries. 

Organizations  to  promote  Devon  interests  exist  in  England  and 
America.  The  first  Devon  herdbook  was  published  by  Colonel 
Davy  in  185  1,  who  subsequently  published  seven  more  volumes, 
the  last  in  1881.  About  1880  the  Devon  Cattle  Breeders'  Society 
was  organized  in  England,  and  the  herdbook  publication  was 
transferred  to  it  about  1884  by  Messrs.  Hawkes  and  Risdon,  who 
had  purchased  the  rights  from  Colonel  Davy  in  1883.  Some 
twenty-eight  volumes  of  the  Devon  herdbook  have  been  pub- 
lished since  185  1,  registering  over  5000  bulls  and  20,000  cows. 
About  1890  the  South  Devon  Herdbook  Society  was  organized, 
publishing  its  first  herdbook  soon  after  in  1891,  since  which  time 
eight  volumes  have  been  published  up  to  1905.  In  the  United 
States  an  American  Devon  Herdb 00k  was  first  published  in  1863, 
four  other  volumes  following,  the  last  in  1879.  The  American 
Devon  Record  was  first  published  in  188 1  by  James  Bucking- 
ham of  Zanesville,  Ohio.  Later  this  record  became  the  official 
register  of  the  American  Devon  Cattle  Breeders'  Association, 
and  up  to  1905  seven  volumes  were  published,  showing  nearly 
13,000  animals  recorded. 

The  popularity  of  the  Devon  in  America  at  the  present  time  is 
very  low.  For  a  breed  with  such  an  old  and  creditable  history 
it  is  a  remarkable  thing  that  it  should  have  come  to  such  a 
subordinate  place  among  well-known  breeds  in  America.  But 
few  Devons  are  seen  at  the  fairs  outside  of  New  England,  while 
at  the  large  shows  they  are  often  unrepresented.  At  the  Loui- 
siana Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis  in  1904,  the  greatest 
American  cattle  show  in  history,  the  Devon  exhibit  was  repre- 
sented by  two  small  herds,  such  as  hardly  produced  a  comment 
by  the  live-stock  press.  At  the  International  Live  Stock  Expo- 
sition at  Chicago  the  same  year  not  one  Devon  was  shown. 


CHAPTER  XLIV 

THE  BROWN  SWISS 

Two  distinct  races  of  Swiss  cattle  are  found  in  Switzerland, 
one  known  as  the  Brown  Schwyzer,  and  the  other  the  Simmen- 
thal  or  spotted  breed.  The  former  comprises  about  two  fifths  of 
the  cattle  of  that  country,  while  the  latter  represents  three  fifths 
of  the  total.  The  former  are  bred  and  imported  to  the  United 
States,  while  the  latter  are  not  exported  unless  in  so  small  a  way 
as  to  be  inconspicuous. 

The  native  home  of  the  Brown  Swiss  is  Switzerland,  where  in 
winter  they  dwell  in  barns  in  the  lowlands  and  valleys,  while  in 
summer  they  pasture,  even  to  the  upper  grazing  line  of  the  Alps. 
They  are  distinctly  a  hardy  mountain  breed,  and  in  general  subsist 
on  pasture  or  hay  exclusively,  grain  being  but  very  little  used. 
These  cattle  are  bred  in  their  greatest  purity  in  the  central  part 
of  Switzerland  in  the  cantons  of  Schwyz,  Uri,  and  Zug,  though 
the  breed  is  generally  found  over  the  northern  and  eastern  parts 
of  the  country. 

The  origin  of  Brown  Swiss  cattle  is  probably  prehistoric. 
Horns,  skulls,  and  other  bones  have  been  found  in  the  Swiss 
lake  dwellings,  which  date  back  to  the  Bronze  Age,  that  closely 
resemble  those  of  the  Brown  Swiss  of  to-day.  It  is  generally 
conceded  that  the  breed  is  very  ancient,  and  that  it  has  long 
been  bred  with  much  purity  and  care  by  Swiss  farmers. 

The  introduction  of  Brown  Swiss  to  the  United  States  first 
occurred  in  1869,  when  H.  M.  Clark  of  Belmont,  Massachusetts, 
purchased  of  Colonel  G.  Biirgi  of  Arth,  canton  of  Schwyz,  seven 
heifers  and  one  bull,  which  soon  after  their  arrival  were  resold 
to  D.  G.  Aldrich  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  and  David  Hall 
of  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  In  1882  Scott  &  Harris  of  Mas- 
sachusetts imported  nine  two-year-old  heifers  and  a  bull,  and  in 
1883   ten  heifers.     In   1883  William  Thoch  of  New  York  and 

326 


THE  BROWN  SWISS 


327 


Ridge  and  Eldredge  of  the  same  state  made  importations.  The 
most  important  recent  importation  was  that  made  in  1904  by 
McLaury  Brothers  of  New  York,  who  brought  over  a  number  of 
show  cattle  which  they  exhibited  at  various  state  fairs  and  at  the 
Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis.  The  breed  has  never 
secured  an  important  position  in  America  since  its  introduction. 
The  characteristics  of  the  Brown  Swiss.  This  is  essentially  a 
dual-purpose  breed  of  very  uniform  and  distinct  breed  character- 
istics.   The  color  is  a  light  or  dark  brown,  that  most  esteemed 


Fig.  145.  Upland  Hobby  14S8,  grand-champion  Brown  Swiss  bull  at  the 
Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904,  and  one  of  the  most  noted  prize 
winners  of  the  breed.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  F.  R.  Hazard,  Syracuse, 
New  York.    Photograph  from  the  owner 


being  a  dark  brown  or  mouse  color,  fading  to  gray  along  the 
backbone  to  the  tail  head,  and  sometimes  also  about  the  belly. 
There  is  also  a  mealy  or  creamy  ring  about  the  muzzle.  The 
udder  is  usually  white,  the  hoofs  black,  and  the  horns  white 
in  the  lower  part  and  very  dark  at  the  tips.  The  tongue  and 
nose  are  very  dark  colored,  approaching  black.  The  general  form 
of  Brown  Swiss  cattle  is  distinctly  blocky,  much  more  so  in  fact 
than  other  dual-purpose  breeds,  the  points  being  full  from  breast 
to  hind  quarter,   showing  thickness    and    depth.    The  head  is 


32S 


CATTLE 


rather  heavy,  and  combining  as  it  does  a  sizable  horn  and  a  full- 
ness of  the  neck  quite  unknown  with  British  breeds,  impresses 
one  as  somewhat  coarse.  The  neck  is  large  and  heavy  in  both 
sexes  at  all  ages,  the  skin  about  the  throatlatch  and  along  the 
dewlap  being  strikingly  abundant.  The  breast  is  broad  and  deep, 
and  the  shoulders  rather  heavy  and  prominent,  not  being  set  in 
deep.  The  body  shows  a  great  deal  of  feeding  capacity  with  plenty 
of  depth,  but  the  back  is  frequently  slack  in  front,  and  the  fore 
ribs  have  scarcely  enough  spring  for  best  conformation.  The  hind 
quarter  is  long,  level,  and  broad  at  the  rump,  the  thighs  and 
twist  incline  to  be  distinctly  beefy,  and  the  legs  are  short  and 
strong.  The  cows  have  large  udders,  frequently  long,  wide, 
and  deep,  with  well-placed  teats  of  convenient  size.  The  milk 
veins  and  wells  average  medium  in  size,  comparing  fairly  with 
dairy  breeds.  The  quality,  from  the  standpoint  of  an  American, 
averages  rather  below  medium,  as  is  very  commonly  seen  in  the 
thick,  none  too  elastic,  deep  yellow  skin,  rather  coarse  hair,  large 
joints,  and  heavy  head,  neck,  and  fore  quarters.  In  temperament 
cattle  of  this  breed  are  very  superior,  being  quiet  and  docile 
to  the  most  satisfactory  degree. 

The  size  of  Brown  Swiss  cattle  is  somewhat  variable,  accord- 
ing to  American  consuls  in  Switzerland,  being  smaller  in  the 
high  Alpine  districts  than  in  the  lower  regions.  A  standard 
weight  of  cow,  however,  is  given  at  from  1300  to  1400  pounds 
at  maturity.  The  males  may  weigh  over  2000  pounds,  although 
1500  to  1800  pounds  represent  standard  weights.  It  is  thought 
by  some  that  the  males  more  nearly  approach  the  females  in 
weight  than  in  most  breeds. 

The  dairy  qualities  of  the  Brown  Swiss  appeal  particularly  to 
the  people  of  Switzerland,  for  this  is  the  leading  milk-producing 
breed  of  the  country.  Numerous  records  of  Swiss  dairies  show 
large  capacity  on  the  part  of  the  Brown  Swiss  cow.  Mr.  F.  H. 
Mason,  as  United  States  consul  in  Switzerland,  reports  that  at 
Cham  the  6000  cows  supplying  the  Anglo-Swiss  Condensed 
Milk  Company  yielded  5315  pounds  each.  These  cows  were 
milked  for  an  average  of  about  nine  months,  and  were  fed  only 
grass  and  hay.  Consul  Beauchamp  of  St.  Galle  reports  visiting 
one  of  the  largest  herds  of  pure-breds  in  Switzerland,  that  of 


THE  BROWN   SWISS  329 

Mr.  Kiihn  of  Degersheim,  where  40  superior  cows  averaged 
17  to  20  quarts  of  milk  per  day.  In  the  Pan-American  dairy 
test  in  1 90 1  the  five  Brown  Swiss  cows  stood  third  in  total 
milk  solids  produced,  eighth  in  net  profit  in  fat,  and  fourth 
in  pounds  of  milk  produced,  being  surpassed  in  milk  yield  by 
the  Holstein-Friesian,  Ayrshire,  and  Shorthorn  respectively. 
In  net  profit  in  the  six  months'  test  the  highest  rank  attained 
by  a  Brown  Swiss  among  fifty  head  of  ten  breeds  was  nineteenth, 
the  cow  Bell  T.  showing  a  net  profit  of  #41.23,  compared  with 


Fig.  146.    An  excellent  type  of  Brown  Swiss  heifer  as  seen  in  Switzerland. 
Photograph  from  McLaury  &  Son,  Portlandville,  New  York 

$59.21  for  the  cow  in  first  place,  a  Guernsey,  Mary  Marshall. 
The  late  Major  H.  E.  Alvord  reports  a  Brown  Swiss  cow  in 
Massachusetts  to  have  produced  by  accurately  recorded  weights 
86,304  pounds  of  milk  before  twelve  years  of  age,  making  from 
500  to  610  pounds  of  butter  per  year  for  four  years.  The  milk 
is  merely  fair  in  per  cent  of  fat,  the  average  in  tests  of  several 
thousand  head  being  3.30  per  cent.  In  Switzerland,  where  much 
cheese  is  made  from  this  milk,  about  twenty  pounds  are  required 
for  one  pound  of  cheese. 

The  dairy  test  of  the  cow  Brienz  168  is  of  special  interest  in 
connection  with  this  breed.     In  November,  1891,  this  cow,  aged 


330  CATTLE 

twelve,  weighing  1400  pounds,  in  a  public  test  at  Chicago  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  averaged 
81.7  pounds  of  milk  per  day  for  three  days,  the  total  milk  yield- 
ing 9.32  pounds  butter  fat,  which  stands  as  the  largest  public 
milk  and  butter-fat  test  yet  made  by  any  breed.  Brienz  was  a 
Brown  Swiss,  owned  by  Mr.  Abe  Bourquin  of  Illinois. 

The  Brown  Swiss  as  beef  producers  rank  well  in  Switzerland, 
the  Germans  especially  seeking  the  fattened  cattle,  which  are 
said  to  produce  a  desirable  class  of  meat.  In  America  there  is 
little  evidence  on  this  point.  The  cattle,  however,  keep  in  good 
flesh  easily  and  fatten  rapidly.    Weights  of  400  to  600  pounds  at 


Fig.  147.  A  pair  of  Brown  Swiss  cows,  Upland  Laura  2001  and  Upland 
Augusta  2266.  Owned  by  F.  R.  Hazard,  Syracuse,  New  York.  Photo- 
graph from  the  owner 

four  to  six  months  old  are  given  as  common,  and  the  steers 
attain  a  large  size  and  dress  out  55  to  60  per  cent.  It  is  not 
likely,  however,  that  cattle  of  this  type  will  ever  become  popular 
in  the  beef-cattle  market  in  America. 

The  distribution  of  Brown  Swiss  cattle  is  mainly  over  con- 
tinental Europe,  they  thriving  there,  it  is  said,  very  generally, 
excepting  in  Spain.  In  the  United  States  there  are  but  com- 
paratively few  herds,  the  better-known  ones  to-day  being  in 
New  York,  Ohio,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  and 
Colorado. 

The  adaptability  of  the  Brown  Swiss  to  a  wide  range  of  con- 
ditions seems  apparent.    Their  native  home  is  in  the  mountains, 


THE  BROWN  SWISS 


331 


where  they  thrive  on  rations  that  would  not  be  regarded  as 
satisfactory  in  America,  and  where  they  are  distinctly  hardy.  The 
herds  kept  in  the  more  sterile  sections  of  the  eastern  United 
States  seem  to  thrive  equally  well  with  those  in  the  corn  belt 
of  the  West.  No  doubt  they  have  a  special  place  in  dairy  sections, 
notably  in  the  more  elevated  regions  where  a  rugged  breed  is 
desirable.  From  the  profit  point  of  view  it  is  doubtful  if  they 
can  compete  satisfactorily  with  some  of  our  other  breeds  in  the 
fertile  West. 

The  Brown  Swiss  in  crossing  or  grading  will  do  very  well 
where  mated  with  stock  lacking  in  vigor,  for  this  breed  is  of 
superior  vigor  and  hardiness.  No  doubt  many  grade  dairy  herds 
of  Jersey  or  Guernsey  character  would  have  increased  vigor 
restored  by  a  Brown  Swiss  cross,  with  a  higher  value  from  the 
butcher's  point  of  view. 

The  American  Brown  Swiss  Breeders'  Association  champions 
the  cause  of  the  breed  in  this  country.  This  association  was 
organized  in  1880,  and  up  to  1905  had  published  three  small 
herd  records,  showing  a  registration  of  n  57  bulls  and  17 14 
cows.  A  very  creditable  and  comparatively  large  exhibition  of 
Brown  Swiss  cattle  was  made  in  1904  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
Exposition,  New  York,  Missouri,  and  Illinois  being  represented. 
This  was  the  largest  show  of  the  breed  thus  far  held  in  America. 


332  CATTLE 


A  FEW  REFERENCE  BOOKS  ON  CATTLE 

Lewis  F.  Allen,  American  Cattle.    New  York,  1890. 
*Lewis  F.  Allen,  History  of  the  Shorthorn  Cattle.    Buffalo,  1872. 
Aberdeen  Angus,  The  Breed  that  Beats  the  Record.    Detroit,  1886. 
George  Armatage,  Cattle  :  Their  Varieties  and  Management.    London,  N.D. 
Robert  W.  Ashburner,  The  Shorthorn  Herds  of  England.    Warwick,  N.D. 
*C.  J.  Bates,  Thomas  Bates  and  the  Kirklevington  Shorthorns.    London,  1897. 
*Rev.  W.  Holt  Beaver,  An  Arithmetical  Arrangement  of  the  Leading  Shorthorn 

Tribes.    London,  N.D. 
*Thomas  Bell,  History  of  Improved  Shorthorn-Durham  Cattle.    Newcastle-on- 

Tyne,  1871. 
J.  Coleman,  Editor,  The  Cattle  of  Great  Britain.    London,  1S75. 
William  S.  Dixon  (The  Druid),  Saddle  and  Sirloin.    London,  1870. 
Charles  L.  Flint,  Milch  Cows  and  Dairy  Farming.    Boston,  1889. 
Thomas  J.  Hand,  Guenon  on  Milch  Cows.    New  York,  1883. 
Willis  P.  Hazard,  The  Jersey,  Alderney,  and  Guernsey  Cow.    Philadelphia, 

1872. 
^Frederick  L.  Houghton,  Holstein-Friesian  Cattle.    Brattleboro,  1897. 
*William  Housman,  Cattle  :  Breeds  and  Management.    London,  1897. 
*  William  Housman,  The  Improved  Shorthorn.    London,  1876. 
*John  S.  Linsley,  Jersey  Cattle  in  America.    New  York,  1885. 
William  McCombie,  Cattle  and  Cattle  Breeders.    Edinburgh,  1875. 
*James  Macdonald  and  James  Sinclair,   The   History  of  Hereford  Cattle. 

London,  1886. 
*Macdonald   and   Sinclair,  History  of    Polled  Aberdeen   or   Angus  Cattle. 

Edinburgh,  1882. 
T.  L.  Miller  and  T.  F.  B.  Sotham,  History  of  Hereford  Cattle.    Chillicothe, 

1902. 
*Charles  S.  Plumb,  Little  Sketches  of  Famous  Beef  Cattle.    Columbus,  Ohio, 

1904. 
Dr.  G.  Pusch,  Die  Beurteilungslehr  des  Kindes.    Berlin,  1896. 
*Consular  Reports,  Cattle  and  Dairy  Farming.    Washington,  1S87. 
*Alvin  H.  Sanders,  Shorthorn  Cattle.    Chicago,  1900. 
*James  Sinclair,  History  of  the  Devon  Breed  of  Cattle.    London,  1S93. 
*Rev.  John  Storer,  The  Wild  White  Cattle  of  Great  Britain.    London,  N.D. 
*E.  Lewis  Sturtevant,  The  Dairy  Cow  (A  monograph  of  the  Ayrshire  breed  of 

cattle).    Boston,  1875. 
Emile  Thierre,  Les  Vaches  Laitieres.    Paris,  1895. 
George  Vasey,  A  Monograph  of  the  Genus  Bos.    London,  1857. 
*WlLLIAM  Youatt,  Cattle:  Their  Breeds,  Management,  and  Diseases.    London, 

i835- 


PART  III  — SHEEP 
CHAPTER  XLV 

THE  MERINO  OR  FINE-WOOL  TYPE  OF  SHEEP 

The  Merino  involves  several  families,  and  all  sheep  of  this 
group  are  known  as  fine  wools,  producing  the  finest  of  fiber 
used  in  the  woolen  trade. 

The  Merino  in  general  conformation  may  be  compared  to  the 
dairy  cow.  The  body  lacks  fullness  of  bosom,  breadth  of  back, 
and  general  thickness  all  through ;  the  leg  of  mutton  is  not  thick 
and  full,  and  the  neck  and  legs  tend  to  be  long.  A  muscular 
development  of  the  entire  body  prevails,  rather  than  smooth- 
ness and  heavy  fleshing.  The  wool  is  somewhat  short  of  staple, 
is  very  thick  over  the  entire  body,  and  is  remarkably  fine  in 
quality.  An  oily  secretion,  commonly  known  as  yolk  or  grease, 
found  on  all  sheep,  exudes  from  glands  at  the  base  of  the  wool 
fiber,  and  gradually  passes  up  the  wool  to  the  tip.  Some  sheep 
possess  much  more  yolk  than  others,  notably  Merinos  of  the 
Spanish-American  type  with  heavy  folds.  This  yolk  accumu- 
lates dust  and  dirt  on  the  exterior  of  the  fleece,  forming  a  dark, 
dirty  covering.  There  are  exceptions,  however,  with  the  smooth- 
bodied  Merinos,  some  showing  but  little  external  yolk. 

Three  classes  of  Merino  sheep  are  recognized  to-day  by  many 
of  our  leading  breeders.  Owing  to  the  difference  in  type,  as 
shown  by  the  folds  or  wrinkles  on  the  neck  and  body,  in  1893 
the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago  grouped  these 
sheep  into  two  classes.  This  same  classification  has  been  ac- 
cepted and  used  elsewhere,  including  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
Exposition  in   1904  at  St.  Louis.    The  classes  are  as  follows: 

Class  A  Merino  represents  the  distinctly  Spanish  or  American 
type,  with  heavy  folds  at  the  neck  and  over  the  body  and  hind 

333 


334 


SHEEP 


quarters,  with  a  very  high  percentage  of  wool  and  yolk  to  car- 
cass. At  a  public  shearing  at  Middlebury,  Vermont,  in  1882 
a  bunch  of  54  ewes  and  rams  of  this  class  averaged  23.3  per  cent 
unwashed  fleece  to  live  weight,  and  cases  are  on  record  where 
36  per  cent  of  the  original  weight  of  sheep  was  fleece. 

Class  B  Merino  carries  the  Spanish  or  American  blood  lines 
also,  but  has  a  smoother  body,  with  less  folds  and  less  yolk  in 
the  staple.     Sheep  in  this  class  usually  have  some  folds  about 


*'. --'•.'  !5  'W^^^      '*-?    ^B             -  -"'-  -''.■•'' '■"•■£?■%  J:\  rajagSraSra 

m--^^*&^    :Nf#B            iH  :"%%-^ 

■  ■ '■  •  wi^&fc*  imI  :  "■   -  ^^fy^sjtfiss 

'  -^w '  '-^flW' SGuPSk:  3bHe    "   "^^*W 

i-^^W         v*«?*!t^^^^k3    Wmm'wwfr ■''-■■' 

:  s  HW          -#■  {JB*^    ^     ^BH^cL^k  **&■*&£ 

'/\y'} '-'  :ihi-  '^3PH"'  1 US 

1  ^v  — *    -'fjr  'i&jm^^  ^^^KmMbTjr^w  >w 

-'-•'i  -'w-'4 

^IK^r1;-^  ^B" 11 

K^aBMPSI  ftiftfiH 

fc^-f  :tc&4Bi9hHI 

MtoP^siHl "^  J-< 

HL  '     '  vr W' '  'rTffilllW^BflBHBffB! 

^^  ^'SM^v^SB            f^B 

E^iPSB^ 

k1w;;^ 

y$&J£#$gm 

''^P^^W/":'>..VVJ 

BMP"      tiflH  ''     '*^{B 

BB '  :i*wB     *«fi£" 

EBhb^S  '      ■■'"'-"-      '-.'-..  Hk£ 

fcaHfe:  •!•■'"'' 

Ef     V^R 

Fig.  148.    A  fine   example   of  a  "Vermont   Merino,"  well   illustrating  the 
Class  A  type.    Photograph  from  the  Motional  Stockman  and  Farmer 

the  neck  and  breast,  and  perhaps  in  a  slight  way  at  the  thighs. 
They  usually  have  somewhat  more  scale  and  carry  more  natural 
flesh  and  some  less  wool  and  yolk  though  with  a  longer  staple 
than  those  belonging  to  Class  A. 

In  order  to  more  sharply  draw  the  line  between  Merino  sheep 
of  different  types,  many  breeders,  notably  in  Ohio,  have  a  third 
class,  known  as  Class  C  Merino. 

Class  C  Merino  has  a  very  smooth  body,  with  no  folds  at 
all,  unless  to  a  very  slight  extent  in  the  neck  or  breast.    The 


THE  MERINO  OR  FINE-WOOL  TYPE  OF  SHEEP    335 

Delaines  and  Rambouillets  represent  this  type.  These  have  a 
fleece  with  less  yolk  and  weight  although  an  increased  length 
of  staple,  with  a  still  larger,  smoother  body,  approaching  nearer 
the  mutton  type  of  carcass,  while  the  fleece  retains  its  typical 
fine-wool  character. 

The  use  of  the  three  classes  of  Merinos  may  be  found  in  the 
very  best  American  flocks,  one  man  keeping  sheep  of  each  class. 
As  sheep  of  Class  C  lack  weight  and  quality  of  fleece  to  some 


Fig.  149.  The  Sweepstakes  Merino  ram  of  the  Class  B  type  at  the  Illinois 
State  Fair  and  the  St.  Louis  Exposition  and  Fair.  Exhibited  by  C.  H. 
Bell  of  Ohio.    Photograph  from  the  American  Sheep  Breeder 

extent,  careful  matings  of  rams  of  Class  A  are  made  upon  ewes 
of  C,  resulting  in  the  more  desirable  B  sort,  shearing  much  more 
easily  than  those  of  A,  giving  a  reasonably  heavy  fleece,  and 
producing  an  improvement  over  A  for  mutton.  By  variously 
mating  these  three  classes  the  breeder  may  secure  a  type  of 
Merino  to  suit  his  special  needs.  Thus  some  of  our  best  breeders 
are  able  to  supply  calls  for  sheep  of  any  or  all  of  the  three  types. 
The  head  of  the  Merino  sheep  should  be  short,  broad  at  the 
muzzle,  with  large  nostrils.    A  nose  short  and  inclined  to  be 


336  SHEEP 

wrinkled,  and  somewhat  thick  or  Roman  with  the  rams,  is  pre- 
ferred. There  should  also  be  ample  width  between  large,  clear, 
mild  eyes,  with  a  prominent  forehead.  The  ears  should  be  fine 
and  short,  be  actively  carried,  and  have  a  covering  of  silky  hair. 
The  horns,  which  occur  on  the  males,  as  a  rule  interfere  with 
a  natural  action  and  movement  of  ear.  The  horns  on  mature 
rams  are  large,  are  rather  angular  at  the  base,  and  have  a  spiral 
turn  backward,  then  downward,  around  forward,  and  up,  form- 
ing a  more  or  less  corkscrew  shape.  The  horn  when  fully  devel- 
oped usually  shows  one  and  one-half  turns,  and  with  some  the 
tip  of  horn  turns  upward  and  with  others  down.  The  head  of  the 
male,  as  a  whole,  should  show  sex  character  in  a  strong  degree. 

The  neck  of  the  Merino  should  be  of  moderate  length,  neither 
thin  nor  thick  and  heavy,  but  should  be  moderately  muscled  and 
blended  smoothly  to  head  and  shoulders.  The  neck  of  the  male 
should  be  more  heavily  muscled,  showing  distinct  masculinity, 
with  some  indications  of  throatiness  or  depth  of  covering. 

The  shoulders  should  be  smooth  and  incline  well  into  the 
back,  and  not  be  too  prominent.  A  prominence  of  shoulder  is 
a  too  common  feature  with  this  type.  The  withers  are  fre- 
quently sharp  and  high,  although  a  neat,  close,  nicely  rounded, 
smooth  top  at  this  point  is  desirable  especially  with  the  ewes. 
More  prominence  of  withers  is  desired  with  rams,  and  some  of 
the  greatest  sires  have  been  very  strong  in  this  respect. 

The  breast  and  chest  should  exhibit  considerable  depth,  with 
a  reasonable  thickness  in  proportion.  A  common  feature  of  the 
Merino  is  to  have  too  peaked  a  breast,  lacking  thickness  at  the 
chest.  The  crops  and  fore  flank,  which  show  material  deficiency 
in  many  cases,  should  be  reasonably  well  filled  out. 

The  front  legs  of  the  Merino  are  characteristically  crooked 
at  the  knees.  As  one  looks  at  them  from  in  front  the  knees 
fairly  touch  together,  while  the  toes  spread  out.  Sometimes 
the  wool  on  the  legs  causes  deception  in  this  respect,  but  as  a 
rule  the  legs  are  too  crooked  at  the  knees,  due  primarily  to  a 
narrow  chest.  The  same  rule  will  apply  to  sheep  as  to  other 
animals  in  regard  to  position  of  leg,  quality  of  bone,  and  length 
of  parts.  The  pasterns  should  be  springy,  of  medium  length, 
and  should  be  strong  and  support  the  sheep  in  proper  form. 


THE  MERINO  OR  FINE-WOOL  TYPE  OF  SHEEP     337 


The  back  of  the  Merino  varies  according  to  the  class.  Those 
of  Class  A  usually  are  narrower  and  flatter  of  rib.  In  any  class 
a  strongly  supported,  fairly  wide  back,  with  level,  wide  loin  is 
essential. 

The  body  should  have  a  rather  strongly  rounded  out  form, 
the  ribs  showing  a  fair  arch  and  considerable  length,  thus  fur- 
nishing ample  feeding  and  breeding  capacity.  A  blocky,  short 
body  is  not  so  typical  as  one  with  more  roundness  and  of  mod- 
erate length.  The  hind 
flanks  should  show  ample 
depth. 

The  hips  must  be 
smooth,  not  especially 
prominent,  and  should  be 
neatly  covered. 

The  rump  of  the  Me- 
rino, in  correct  form,  is 
long,  level,  and  wide,  but 
a  common  defect  of  speci- 
mens of  this  breed,  no 
matter  what  the  class,  is 
a  peaked,  droopy  rump. 

The  leg  of  mutton  varies  with  the  class.  The  nearer  one 
approaches  Class  C  the  more  filled  out  in  all  its  parts  the  hind 
quarter  becomes.  Nevertheless,  even  in  Class  A,  the  thigh 
should  be  strong  and  reasonably  full,  though  not  so  thick  or 
full  in  twist  as  with  Classes  B  and  C.  Considering  that  Class  C 
emphasizes  mutton  value,  the  leg  of  mutton  here  should  be 
strong  of  development. 

The  hind  legs  should  be  muscular  and  straight,  whether 
viewed  from  either  rear  or  one  side,  the  shank  bones  fine  and 
short,  the  pasterns  strong  and  well  carried,  and  the  toes  neatly 
placed.  Instead  of  that,  the  hind  legs  in  all  classes  of  Merinos 
strongly  tend  to  crooked  hocks,  the  points  nearly  if  not  quite 
touching,  and  the  toes  turning  out.  Often  the  legs  below  the 
hocks  are  carried  too  much  under  the  body,  the  shanks  being 
too  slanting.  Owing  to  lack  of  attention,  the  toes  often  grow 
too  long,  and  thus  the  foot  becomes  thrown  out  of  proper  placing 


Fig.  150.    An  example  of  the  Class  C  type  of 
Merino.    Photograph  by  the  author 


338 


SHEEP 


and  the  entire  leg  is  affected.  Careful  trimming  of  the  toes  will 
easily  remedy  this.  Sheep  of  the  A  class  tend  to  have  bad  feet 
and  should  be  carefully  selected  and  mated  with  the  view  of 
avoiding  this  trouble  as  much  as  possible. 

The  skin  of  the  Merino  should  be  firm  and  of  a  bright  pink 
color  and  free  of  all  scurfiness.  No  class  of  sheep,  as  a  rule, 
shows  such  excellent,  high-class  color  of  skin  as  generally  pre- 
vails with  this  breed.  The  smoothness  of  skin  varies,  that  of 
Class  A  having  notable  folds,  as  has  been  explained  on  page  333, 
Class  B  having  less,  and  Class  C  hardly  any  at  all.  The  skin  of 
Class  A  sheep  is  also  thicker,  mellower,  and  more  porous  than 
that  of  Class  C  which  is  thin  and  more  delicate  than  the  other. 

The  fleshing  of  the  Merino  of  Class  A  type  is  limited  in 
degree,  being  really  a  very  muscular  body  with  almost  no  fat. 
A  smoother,  better-fleshed  body  occurs  with  Class  B,  while 
Class  C  in  ideal  form  is  well  rounded  out,  smooth  in  all  the 
parts,  neatly  covered  with  flesh  without  superfluous  fat. 

The  wool  of  the  Merino,  as  has  been  stated,  represents  the 
finest  grade  produced  on  the  sheep.  This  varies  in  diameter 
and  length,  according  to  the  breed  or  breeding,  and  is  discussed 
to  some  extent  under  Merino  families  proper.  In  all  cases,  how- 
ever, the  fleece  should  cover  the  body  densely,  and  the  fibers 
be  very  fine,  uniform  in  diameter,  and  carry  considerable  crimp. 
The  oil  or  yolk  should  be  sufficiently  abundant  to  keep  the 
fleece  in  superior  condition  at  all  times,  indicating  a  healthy 
condition  of  skin  and  body.  This  oil  exposed  to  the  sun  turns 
darker  in  color  than  when  shaded  in  the  fleece  and  so  adds  to 
the  dirty  external  appearance.  A  white  oil  is  said  to  turn  darker 
than  the  more  yellow  sort.  A  fleece  colored  moderately  yellow 
by  the  oil,  being  neither  white  nor  egg-yellow,  is  preferred.  A 
very  heavy  exudation  of  oil  is  objected  to  as  not  only  causing 
unnecessary  shrinkage  of  fleece  in  washing  but  also  as  being 
something  of  a  drain  on  the  animal's  vitality.  To  some  extent  it 
is  probable  that  the  amount  of  oil  may  be  affected  by  the  food. 
Professor  J.  A.  Craig  states  that  lambs  fed  grain  from  birth 
invariably  sheared  heavier  fleeces  than  those  that  only  had  grain 
during  the  latter  three  months  of  feeding.  The  wool  should 
be  naturally  bright  and  lustrous,  with  a  clean  white  color. 


CHAPTER  XLVI 

THE  AMERICAN   MERINO1 

The  Spanish  Merino  as  the  parent  of  the  American  Merino 
should  receive  a  brief  consideration  introductory  to  this  breed. 

The  native  home  of  the  Merino  is  in  Spain,  in  southern  Europe. 
The  country  is  quite  variable  in  character,  the  interior  consist- 
ing of  plains  as  well  as  long  ranges  of  mountains,  some  of  which 
are  many  thousand  feet  high.  There  are  numerous  rivers  and 
deep  valleys.  The  climate  is  generally  dry  and  mild  in  the  low- 
lands, and  oranges,  citrons,  olives,  and  grapes  are  commonly 
produced  ;  while  oh  the  plains  and  mountain  sides  are  extensive 
pastures,  where  in  times  past  large  flocks  have  grazed.  On  the 
lower,  richer  lands  the  sheep  are  larger  than  on  the  dryer,  poorer 
soils  or  more  elevated  mountains. 

Sheep  husbandry  in  Spain  was  for  centuries  an  important 
industry.  Historians  at  the  beginning  of  the  Christian  era 
directed  attention  to  the  superior  fleece  of  the  sheep  of  Spain, 
especially  Columella,  a  famous  Latin  writer  on  agriculture, 
who  wrote  during  the  first  century.  As  early  as  the  eighth 
century,  when  the  Saracens  took  possession  of  Spain,  they 
established  many  mechanical  arts,  among  which  was  the  woolen 
industry,  and  the  Spanish  sheep  furnished  the  fiber.  The 
statement  has  been  made  that  in  Seville  no  less  than  sixteen 
thousand  looms  existed  in  the  thirteenth  century.  Some  of  the 
Spanish  cloths  were  highly  esteemed  for  their  quality.  By  the 
fifteenth  century,  however,  the  Moors  had  been  largely  driven 
from  Spain  and  the  woolen  industry  fell  into  decay  and  finally 
became  unimportant.  Later  an  attempt  was  made  to  revive  the 
manufacture  of  fine  fabrics  from  wool,  but  without  success. 

1  The  word  "  Merino  "  is  Spanish,  signifying  governor  of  a  small  province,  and 
likewise  one  who  has  care  of  the  pastures  or  cattle  in  general.  He  receives  his 
appointment  from  the  king,  is  a  person  of  rank,  and  is  termed  Merino  Mayor. 

339 


34Q 


SHEEP 


Two  great  groups  of  Spanish  sheep  existed  in  times  past.  One, 
known  as  Estantes  or  stationary,  consisted  of  flocks  of  the  coarser 
wooled  types,  and  these  remained  permanently  on  many  of  the 
hill  farms.  The  other  group,  termed  Trans humantes ox  migratory, 
consisted  of  flocks  that  were  driven  during  the  spring  season, 
under  the  care  of  competent  shepherds,  across  country  and  into 
the  mountains  over  a  grazing  region,  to  be  returned  in  the  fall  to 
the  original  home.    The  Transhumantes  were  divided  into  two 


Fig.  151.  An  American  Merino  ram,  shown  at  the  Pan-American  Exposi- 
tion in  1901  by  H.  D.  Jackson  of  Bridport,  Vermont.  This  ram  was 
first-prize  yearling  and  the  champion  ram  of  the  Class  A  type.  Photo- 
graph from  the  ATatioiial  Stockman  and  Farmer 

classes,  the  Leonese  and  Sorian.  The  former  was  the  more  numer- 
ous and  was  the  highest  esteemed.  Most  of  the  sheep  brought 
to  America  from  Spain  belonged  to  the  Transhumantes  group. 

The  annual  Merino  drives  in  Spain  were  most  important  affairs. 
Youatt  writes  as  follows  : 


The  Leonese  after  having  been  cantoned  during  the  winter  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Guadiana,  in  Estremadura,  begin  their  march  about  the  fif- 
teenth of  April  in  divisions  of  two  or  three  thousand.    They  pass  the  Tagus 


THE  AMERICAN  MERINO 


341 


at  Almares,  and  direct  their  course  towards  Trecasas,  Alfaro,  and  L'Epinar, 
where  they  are  shorn.  This  operation  having  been  performed,  they  recom- 
mence their  travels  towards  the  kingdom  of  Leon.  Some  halt  on  the  Sierra 
(ridge  of  the  mountains)  which  separates  Old  from  New  Castile,  but  others 
pursue  their  route  to  the  pastures  of  Cervera,  near  Aquilar  del  Campo. 
Here  they  graze  until  the  end  of  September,  when  they  commence  their 
return  to  Estremadura.  The  Sorian  sheep,  having  passed  the  winter  on  the 
confines  of  Estremadura,  Andalusia,  and  New  Castile,  begin  their  route 
about  the  same  time.  They  pass  the  Tagus  at  Talavera  and  approach 
Madrid ;  thence  they  proceed  to  Soria,  where  a  portion  of  them  are  distrib- 
uted over  the  neighboring  mountains,  while  the  others  cross  the  Ebro  in 
order  to  proceed  to  Navarre  and  the  Pyrenees. 

It  is  said  that  these  periodical  journeys  can  be  traced  back  to 
the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century,  when  a  tribunal  was  estab- 
lished for  their  regulation.  The  number  of  these  migratory  sheep 
seventy-five  years  ago  was  placed  at  ten  millions,  and  they  were 
divided  into  flocks,  each  in  care  of  a  Mayoral  or  chief  shepherd. 

The  important  provincial  flocks  of  Spain,  from  which  the  best 
Merino  blood  was  exported,  were  represented  on  about  a  half 
dozen  estates,  there  being  mainly,  according  to  Livingston,  about 
30,000  on  each  estate.  These  flocks  have  been  described  by 
various  early  writers,  notably  Consul  William  Jarvis,  who  was 
familiar  with  the  flocks  in  Spain  a  century  ago,  he  being  United 
States  consul  at  Lisbon,  Portugal,  from  which  port  thousands  of 
Merinos  were  shipped.  The  information  concerning  the  early 
Spanish  flocks  is  more  or  less  obscure,  often  indefinite,  and 
sometimes  conflicting.  The  following  is  such  evidence  as  can  be 
presented  of  the  groups  or  classes  from  which  American  importa- 
tions were  mainly  drawn.  In  Spain  these  classes  were  more  or 
less  interbred,  and  the  same  applies  to  American  flocks. 

Paular  Merinos.  This  type  which  produced  the  largest  and 
best  fleeces  was  originally  owned  by  the  Carthusian  friars  of 
Paular,  on  the  borders  of  Andalusia,  an  agricultural  class  of 
monks  that  paid  great  attention  to  horses  and  sheep.  This  was 
probably  one  of  the  handsomest  flocks  of  Spain,  having  close, 
compact,  soft,  and  silky  wool,  with  less  surface  yolk  than  most 
types.  The  Paulars  were  credited  with  enlargement  behind  the 
ears,  with  considerable  throatiness,  and  their  lambs  had  a  coarse 
hairy  appearance  at  birth. 


342 


SHEEP 


Aguirre  Merinos.  This  type  had  more  wool  about  the  face  and 
legs  than  did  the  other  types.  The  wool  was  more  crimped  than 
that  of  the  Paulars  and  less  so  than  that  of  the  Negrettes,  and 
was  thick  and  soft.  The  Aguirres  had  short  legs,  round  and 
broad  bodies,  and  much  loose  skin  or  folds. 

Negrette  Merinos.  These  were  the  largest  and  strongest  of  the 
Transhumantes  sheep  of  Spain.  The  wool  was  some  shorter  and 
more  open  than  that  of  the  Paular,  and  "inclined  to  double." 
Many  Negrettes  were  wooled  on  the  face,  and  on  the  legs  to 
the  hoofs.  All  the  loose-skinned  sheep  had  heavy  dewlaps.  The 
rams  possessed  large  horns. 

Guadalupe  Merinos  were  heavier  of  bone  than  the  Negrettes, 
and  were  of  much  the  same  size,  but  were  not  so  handsome, 


Fig.  152.   Wooly  Nose  and  White  Nose,  two  American  Merino  rams  owned 
by  J.  J.  Deeds  of  Ohio.    Photograph  from  the  American  Sheep  Breeder 


according  to  Jarvis,  although  Lasteyrie  credits  them  with  the  most 
perfect  form,  and  says  they  are  celebrated  also  for  the  quantity 
and  quality  of  their  wool.  These  sheep  had  numerous  folds,  and 
the  wool  was  thick  and  crimped  and  more  oily  than  the  Negrette. 

The  Escurial  Merinos  were  about  as  high  as  the  Paulars,  but 
were  slighter  of  frame.  Their  wool  was  crimped  and  not  so  thick 
as  the  Paular  wool,  and  they  had  less  wool  on  the  legs  and 
faces,  nor  were  their  skins  so  loose  as  the  Negrette  and  Aguirre 
families.    Montarco  Merinos  closely  resembled  the  Escurials. 

Inf antado  Merinos  were  mainly  bred  by  the  Duke  of  Infantado. 
They  were  very  superior  sheep  and  many  of  them  were  brought 


THE  AMERICAN   MERINO  343 

to  America,  notably  by  Colonel  Humphreys.  The  horns  on  the 
rams  came  nearer  to  the  sides  of  the  head  than  did  those  on  the 
Paulars  and  Negrettes.  The  Infantados  of  Atwood  were  mated 
with  Paulars  and  gave  a  great  improvement,  and  from  this  com- 
mingling of  blood  resulted  the  Atwood  family  of  Merinos,  long 
celebrated  for  superiority  of  fleece. 

The  origin  of  Merino  sheep  is  merely  speculative.  It  has  been 
assumed  that  the  parent  stock  existed  in  Spain  prior  to  the 
Christian  era,  and  that  this  was  improved  by  the  introduction  of 
Tarentine  sheep  from  Tarento,  southern  Italy.  Lucius  Columella 
is  said  to  have  introduced  these  a.d.  41,  and  he  also  imported 
African  rams.  The  people  of  Carthage  and  Phoenicia  in  northern 
Africa  brought  fine-wooled  sheep  to  Spain,  as  did  probably  other 
invaders  also.  The  sheep  of  Spain  in  those  days  were  of  various 
colors,  —  white,  black,  red,  or  tawny,  the  red  fiber  being  of  the 
finest  quality.  Undoubtedly  these  early  sheep  were  much  inferior 
to  those  we  know  to-day  in  America,  but  they  without  question 
produced  finer  wool  than  did  other  European  sheep.  The  modern 
improvement  of  the  Merino  was  -essentially  accomplished  out  of 
Spain.  The  Spanish  government  opposed  most  of  the  first  expor- 
tation s,  and  many  sheep  were  smuggled  from  the  country. 

The  exportation  of  Merinos  from  Spain  to  European  countries 
and  America  was  of  great  importance,  for  with  this  the  improve- 
ment of  the  Merino  began. 

Swedish  Merinos.  It  is  believed  that  the  first  of  these  sheep 
exported  from  Spain  were  taken  to  Sweden  in  1723  by  M. 
Alstroemer. 

The  Saxon  Merino.  In  1765  the  Elector  of  Saxony  imported 
from  Spain  92  rams  and  128  ewes,  these  coming  from  the  flocks  of 
Count  Negrette.  Part  of  these  were  placed  on  a  farm  near  Dres- 
den, and  were  later  distributed  to  various  farms,  where  they  were 
carefully  bred,  and  where  they  did  remarkably  well.  Youatt  states 
that  the  wool  of  the  Saxon  Merino  became  finer  and  more  serrated 
than  its  Spanish  progenitor,  and  so  had  an  increased  value.  It 
has  been  claimed  that  the  Saxon  is  the  least  hardy  of  the  modern 
Merinos.    The  modern  type  of  Saxon  is  essentially  free  of  folds. 

German  or  Silesian  Merinos.  The  first  attempt  toward  the 
establishment  of  this  family   was   in    1768  by  Mr.  von  Vinke, 


344  SHEEP 

near  Halle,  who  introduced  some  Saxon  Merinos.  Ten  years 
later  he  secured  pure  Merinos  from  Spain  and  crossed  them  on 
the  sheep  in  that  section  of  Germany.  In  1776  Frederick  the 
Great  became  interested  and  imported  300  pure  Merinos  from 
Spain,  but  through  disease  and  mismanagement  these  came  to 
an  unfortunate  end.  Later  von  Vinke  purchased  a  thousand  pure 
Merinos  under  government  commission,  agricultural  schools  were 
established  for  the  instruction  of  shepherds,  and  sheep  husbandry 
was  specially  promoted.  This  resulted  in  establishing  the  Ger- 
man or  Silesian  family. 

French  Merinos  or  Rambouillets.  These  were  imported  from 
Spain  to  France  in  1786  by  government  commission.  This  type 
is  discussed  by  itself  further  on. 

English  Merinos.  About  1787,  during  the  reign  of  George  III, 
the  "  farmer  king,"  a  small  flock  of  mixed  Merinos  was  smuggled 
from  Spain  through  Portugal  and  taken  to  England.  These  were 
inferior,  so  in  1791,  at  the  request  of  the  king,  a  select  lot  of 
Negrette  sheep,  consisting  of  four  rams  and  thirty-six  ewes,  were 
collected  by  one  of  the  Spanish  nobility  and  presented  to  the 
king.  These  arrived  in  England  in  good  shape,  but  did  poorly 
at  first.  Not  being  suited  to  the  moist  climate  and  rich  pastures 
they  suffered  much  from  disease  and  especially  foot  rot.  They 
gradually  became  acclimated  and  thrived  fairly  well.  A  society 
was  organized  in  181 1  to  promote  them,  but  the  small  size  of 
this  sheep  and  its  inferior  mutton  quality  caused  British  farmers 
to  gradually  give  them  up.  To-day  Merinos  are  almost  unknown 
in  England. 

The  Australian  Merino.  Late  in  the  eighteenth  century  a  few 
Merinos  had  been  taken  to  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  South  Africa, 
from  England.  Later,  in  1797,  these  were  taken  to  Sydney, 
New  South  Wales.  Since  that  period  Australia  has  become  the 
greatest  Merino  sheep  country  in  the  world.  There  these  sheep 
thrive  and  produce  a  very  superior  grade  of  wool. 

The  introduction  of  the  Merino  to  the  United  States  probably 
occurred  in  1793.  Mr.  William  Foster  of  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, smuggled  from  Spain  one  ram  and  two  ewes.  These  he 
presented  to  a  friend,  who,  not  realizing  their  value,  used  them 
for  meat,  though  he  later  purchased  a  ram  for  $1000  at  auction. 


THE  AMERICAN   MERINO 


345 


In  1 80 1  Seth  Adams,  then  of  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  im- 
ported a  pair  of  Spanish  Merinos,  which  were  conveyed  through 
France  to  the  seaboard.  Later,  in  1807,  Adams  moved  to  Ohio, 
taking  the  first  Merino  sheep  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 
In  1 80 1  M.  Dupont  de  Nemours  had  four  ram  lambs  shipped  to 
America,  three  of  which  died  at  sea.  The  other,  Don  Carlos,  was 
taken  to  Dupont's  farm  along  the  Hudson  River  in  New  York, 


F 

m 

m  . 

1^             --A 

IS - £ 

Fig.  153.  Don  Dudley's  Pet  1493,  an  American  Merino  ram  noted  as  a  sire 
and  prize  winner.  Owned  and  shown  by  R.  D.  Williamson  of  Xenia, 
Ohio.  Sold  in  1906  at  six  years  of  age  for  $300,  to  go  to  South  Africa. 
The  men  in  the  picture  are  three  of  the  most  prominent  Merino  breeders 
of  Ohio  and  the  United  States.  Mr.  Williamson  is  on  the  left,  Mr.  A.  T. 
Gamber  in  the  center,  and  George  H.  Helser  on  the  right.  Photograph 
by  the  author 

where  for  nearly  four  years  he  was  used  on  the  flocks  of  that 
region.  Later  he  was  taken  to  Wilmington,  Delaware,  and  the 
influence  of  his  blood  became  felt  extensively  in  New  York, 
Delaware,  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  and  Virginia.  In  1802  Colonel 
David  Humphreys  imported  from  Spain  twenty-one  rams  and 
seventy  ewes  to  his  home  in  Derby,  Connecticut.  Robert  Living- 
ston, Minister  to  France,  sent  four  head  to  New  York  the  same 


346  SHEEP 

year.  In  1805  Livingston  returned  to  America  and  began  breed- 
ing pure  and  grade  Merinos.  He  was  very  successful  in  his 
breeding,  and  his  sheep  attracted  wide  attention  and  brought 
high  prices.  He  had  great  social  influence  and  was  a  famous 
politician,  so  that  he  induced  many  to  take  up  sheep  husbandry. 
In  1809  he  wrote  an  Essay  on  Sheep,  which  was  ordered 
printed  by  the  New  York  legislature.  Through  his  influence  the 
legislature  also  passed  an  act  in  1808  to  encourage  raising  and 
breeding  Merinos.  In  1809-18 10  William  Jarvis  of  Vermont, 
United  States  Consul  at  Lisbon,  Portugal,  shipped  at  different 
times  a  total  of  about  4000  Spanish  Merinos,  of  which  1500 
came  to  New  York,  1000  to  Boston  and  Newburyport,  and  the 
remainder  to  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  Alexandria,  Richmond, 
Norfolk,  etc.  "  Indeed,"  says  Mr.  Jarvis  in  his  correspondence, 
"  I  was  disposed  to  distribute  these  valuable  animals  to  every 
state  which  would  be  likely  to  profit  by  their  acquisition."  All  of 
these  were  sheep  of  superior  breeding.  They  included  Paulars, 
Aguirres,  Escurials,  Negrettes,  and  Montarcos.  Jarvis  placed 
400  head  on  his  farm  in  Vermont,  in  the  care  of  Paular  shepherds, 
and  he  writes  that  "  I  bred  the  respective  flocks  separately  till 
18 16  or  18 17,  when  I  mixed  them  together,  and  have  so  bred 
my  Merinos  ever  since."  The  importations  of  Humphreys  and 
Jarvis  distributed  Spanish  Merinos  widely  over  the  northeastern 
states,  and  from  these  our  American  Merinos  received  their  im- 
portant early  start.  Each  of  these  men  bred  most  successfully, 
greatly  improving  their  flocks. 

A  mania  for  Merino  sheep  began  to  develop,  and  in  18 10  both 
Livingston  and  Humphreys  sold  rams  at  $1000  each,  while  the 
latter  sold  two  ewes  and  two  rams  for  $1500  each.  Then  came 
a  great  craze  for  fine-wool  sheep,  and  it  is  stated  that  in  18 10 
over  10,000  were  shipped  to  America;  Cochran  Johnston, 
Goold  Brothers,  and  Charles  O'Neil  importing  from  Lisbon,  and 
R.  W.  Meade  and  others  from  Cadiz.  It  is  estimated  that  from 
April  1,  18 10,  to  August  31,  18 11,  there  were  brought  to  the 
United  States  19,651  Merino  sheep. 

The  early  improvers  of  the  Merino  began  with  Adams  and 
Humphreys,  but  during  the  middle  of  the  century  a  few  men 
rendered  very  great  service  in  the  improvement  of  this  sheep. 


THE  AMERICAN   MERINO 


347 


Notable  among  these  were  Stephen  Atwood,  Woodbury,  Con- 
necticut, whose  flock  was  commenced  in  1813,  and  who  was  a 
breeder  until  his  death  in  1867  ;  Edwin  Hammond,  Middlebury, 
Vermont,  1844- 18 70;  William  Jarvis,  Weathersfield,  Vermont, 
1811-1859;  Tyler  Stickney,  Shoreham,  Vermont,  1834-1882  ; 
Andrew  Cock,  Flushing,  Long  Island,  New  York,  a  breeder 
from  18  1 1  to  1823  ;  Charles  Rich  of  Shoreham,  Vermont,  who 


Fig.  154.  An  American  Merino  ewe  of  the  Class  B  type,  first  in  class  at  three 
state  fairs.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  R.  D.  Williamson.  Photograph  from 
the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 


began  his  flock  in  1823,  his  sons,  John  T.  and  Charles,  continu- 
ing the  work,  this  also  descending  to  a  third  generation  in  his 
grandsons,  J.  T.  and  Virtulan,  sons  of  John  T.  ;  William  R. 
Dickinson  of  Steuben ville,  Ohio,  who  bred  from  about  1809  to 
1830;  and  Bezaleel  Wells,  also  of  Steubenville,  who  maintained 
a  flock  over  much  the  same  period.  These  men  were  among 
the  really  great  pioneer  breeders  of  America ;  they  did  much  to 


348  SHEEP 

improve  the  Merino,  notably  in  character  and  quantity  of  fleece, 
and  from  their  flocks  descends  the  best  blood  of  to-day. 

Characteristics  of  the  American  Merino.  This  Merino  is  simply 
an  improved  form  of  the  Spanish,  characterized  by  heavy  folds 
on  the  body,  excepting  over  the  back.  The  head  is  small,  being 
comparatively  broad  and  short,  the  rams  carrying  heavy,  spirally 
twisted  horns,  and  the  ewes  being  hornless.  The  lips  and  nostrils 
are  white  and  fine  silky  white  hairs  surround  the  muzzle  and 
extend  part  way  up  the  nose.  The  ears  are  small  and  are 
covered  with  fine  white  hairs.  Reddish  or  tan-colored  hair  is 
occasionally  seen  on  the  ears  and  nose  of  the  Merino,  which 
suggests  a  reversion  to  the  same  color  of  earlier  days.  Some 
Merino  breeders  have  valued  this  color  variation,  while  others 
have  endeavored  to  breed  it  out.  The  neck  is  thin  and  tends  to 
be  long  below  and  short  above,  the  shoulders  are  very  sloping, 
the  chest  narrow  but  deep,  the  withers  thin,  the  back  moderately 
narrow,  the  rump  frequently  steep,  the  thighs  thin,  the  legs 
small  and  fine.  The  skin  is  of  the  most  attractive  bright  pink 
color,  and  in  good  specimens  is  in  folds  along  the  bridge  of  the 
nose  and  neck,  about  the  breast,  shoulders,  lower  part  of  the 
sides,  and  about  the  rump  and  thigh.  There  are  usually  no 
folds  over  the  back  and  perhaps  upper  third  of  sides,  unless  in 
a  small  degree.  In  1892  an  eminent  breeder  is  thus  quoted  by 
Ezra  Carman  : 

The  prevailing  fashion  is  to  have  from  three  to  five  heavy  folds  on  the 
neck,  not  large  on  the  upper  side,  but  large  on  the  under  side ;  two  or 
three  short  folds  on  and  immediately  back  of  each  elbow  or  arm  ;  fine, 
thick  wrinkles  running  down  the  sides,  but  not  extending  over  the  back. 
Wrinkles  across  the  hips,  sometimes  from  the  tail  in  the  direction  of  the 
stifle,  and  sometimes  at  right  angles  with  them,  folds  also  around  the  tail  to 
give  it  a  wide  appearance,  and  also  folds  across  the  thigh  with  a  deep  flank. 

The  fleece  covers  the  entire  body  and  legs,  excepting  on  the 
nose,  on  the  lower  half  of  the  head,  and  on  the  ears.  The  eyes 
are  often  hidden  by  the  fleece  covering  the  head.  The  outside 
of  the  fleece  is  of  a  dirty  black  color,  caused  by  the  accumula- 
tion of  dust  in  the  yellow  oil  or  yolk  which  exudes  to  the  end 
of  the  fiber,  adding  greatly  to  the  unwashed  weight.  A  con- 
siderable amount  of  oil  is  desirable  in  the  fleece  and  especially 


THE  AMERICAN   MERINO  349 

is  it  important  in  the  rams.  A  dry,  white  fleece  is  an  inferior 
wool,  and  rams  with  such  fleeces  are  not  usually  the  best 
breeders.  This  grease,  oil,  or  yolk  may  be  scoured  off,  to  show 
a  shrinkage  in  weight  of  65  per  cent.  American  Merino  wool  is 
the  finest  produced,  and  the  more  folds  on  the  body,  and  the 
more  crimped  the  fiber,  the  finer  the  staple.  The  one-year- 
old  fleece  of  a  mature  sheep  will  show  a  length  of  about  two 
and  one-half  inches.  The  temperament  of  the  Merino  is  very 
lively,  yet  not  necessarily  inconsistent  with  docility. 

The  size  of  the  American  Merino  naturally  varies.  Weights  of 
130  pounds  or  upward  for  the  rams  and  about  100  pounds  for 
the  ewes  are  acceptable  to  breeders.  The  finer  specimens  of 
rams  often  weigh  150  to  200  pounds,  but  many  excellent  ewes 
weigh  less  than  100  pounds. 

The  American  Merino  as  a  wool  producer  is  famous.  No  class 
of  sheep  shears  so  strong,  fine,  and  heavy  a  fleece.  Many  mature 
females  shear  from  12  to  15  pounds  and  rams  easily  attain  20 
pounds.  The  Vermont  Metino  Register  gives  thirty-six  rams, 
three  years  old  or  over,  whose  fleeces  averaged  3 1  pounds  1  ounce 
each,  one  weighing  37  pounds  8  ounces.  A  two-year-old  ram,  at 
the  annual  shearing  of  the  Vermont  Sheep  Shearing  Association, 
sheared  44  pounds  3  ounces,  the  heaviest  on  record.  Records 
are  given  by  the  Vermont  Register  of  fifty-four  ewes,  two  years 
old  and  over,  which  sheared  1064  pounds,  9  ounces,  an  average 
of  19  pounds  1 1  ounces,  the  heaviest  fleece  weighing  25  pounds. 
In  1887  forty-six  ewes  averaged  21  pounds  5  ounces. 

The  relationship  of  weight  of  Merino  fleece  to  body  is  regarded 
as  showing  the  true  wool-producing  capacity  of  the  sheep.  The 
thirty-six  rams  above  referred  to  sheared  25.2  per  cent  wool  to 
weight  of  carcass.  Quoting  from  Vermont  reports,  in  18 12  the 
best  rams  produced  but  about  6  per  cent  wool  to  weight  of  body. 
In  1844  the  wool  had  increased  to  15  per  cent,  from  1844  to  1865 
to  21  per  cent,  and  from  then  to  1880  up  to  36  per  cent,  show- 
ing a  remarkable  improvement  in  wool  production.  In  1878 
Vermont  exhibited  seventy-eight  fleeces  at  the  Paris  Exposition, 
which  showed  22  per  cent  wool  to  live  weight,  thirty  of  the  best 
ones  showing  25.2  per  cent,  the  six  best  30.1,  and  one  up  to 
36.6  per  cent.     At  a  public  shearing  at   Middlebury,  Vermont, 


350 


SHEEP 


in  1882,  fifty-four  rams  and  ewes  averaged  23.3  per  cent  wool 
to  live  weight. 

The  fineness  of  Merino  fiber  has  greatly  improved  since  the 
introduction  of  this  sheep  to  America.  A  set  of  measurements 
of  twenty-four  sheep  given  by  Dr.  Cutting  showed  an  average 
diameter  of  fiber  for  rams  and  ewes  of  jj1^  inch,  the  rams 
averaging  T^?F  and  the  ewes  yaVs*  the  finest  ewe  fiber  being 
tsVt  inch.  Dr.  William  McMurtrie,  who  conducted  extensive 
investigations  on  wools  for  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture,  gives  this  table  of  the  comparative  diameter  of 
wools  of  different  breeds  : 


Breed 


Average  Diameter  Fiber 


Merino 

Southdown    .  . 
Hampshire  Down 

Lincoln     .     .  . 

Leicester  .     .  . 

Cotswold  .     .  . 

Oxford  Down  . 


The  mutton  qualities  of  the  American  Merino  are  inferior. 
These  sheep  are  muscular  in  type  and  carry  but  little  fat,  and 
when  pure-bred  are  of  but  secondary  importance  as  mutton. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  American  Merino  is  not  improved 
for  wool  production,  but  by  mating  with  middle  wool  blood  a 
better  mutton  sheep  is  produced,  though  shearing  less  wool 
and  being  less  hardy.  Sheep  of  the  Delaine  type  are  more  or 
less  bred  to  the  American  type,  thus  reducing  the  folds  but  not 
seriously  affecting  the  wool-producing  value.  In  Australia  the 
American  type  is  preferred  to  the  smooth-bodied  Merino,  while 
in  the  United  States  the  reverse  is  the  case.  In  order,  however, 
to  maintain  high-shearing  qualities,  studs  of  American  Merinos 
must  be  maintained  to  thicken  up  the  fleece  of  the  smoother 
sort  and  keep  up  the  weight.    In  New  Zealand  the  Romney 


THE  AMERICAN  MERINO  35  I 

Marsh  and  Merino  are  crossed  extensively,  the  cross-bred  with- 
standing, says  Mr.  George  A.  Brown,  the  bleak  climate  of  south- 
ern New  Zealand  better  than  any  other  combination.  Mr.  Brown 
says  that  in  Australia  the  most  successful  flocks  of  cross-bred 
sheep  he  has  seen  were  from  crossing  long-wool  rams  on  Merino 
ewes.  The  half-bred  ewes  are  culled  as  though  pure-bred,  and 
those  selected  for  breeding  are  drafted  into  two  lots,  one  of  long 
wool  and  the  other  of  Merino  type.  Merino  rams  are  then  used 
on  long- wool  type  ewes,  and  long- wool  rams  on  Merino  type 
ewes.  Every  year  this  selection  is  followed  out,  and  a  very  even 
type  of  sheep  obtained.  On  large  estates  famous  for  cross-breds, 
studs  of  Merino  and  long-wool  rams  are  kept  for  this  kind  of 
mating,  which  produces  a  class  of  sheep  in  favor  with  the  butcher, 
and  the  wool  of  which  sells  well.  The  French  have  developed 
an  important  sort  in  France,  known  as  the  Dishley  Merino,  the 
result  of  using  Leicester  rams  on  Merino  ewes. 

The  adaptability  of  the  American  Merino  is  great.  On  the 
rough  mountain  pastures  of  New  England  and  on  the  ranges 
of  the  far  West  it  seems  equally  at  home,  though  a  better  fleece 
is  produced  in  the  northeast  than  the  southwest,  the  dryer  climate 
being  more  unfavorable.  On  the  richer  soils  of  the  middle  West 
the  Merino  attains  more  size  than  in  the  far  West.  The  American 
Merino  is  extremely  hardy  and  thrives  on  scanty  pasture  and  in 
cold  weather.  Grazing  in  large  flocks  on  the  plains,  it  is  specially 
adapted  to  the  care  of  the  shepherd.  Larger  flocks  of  Merinos 
may  be  kept  together  more  successfully  than  is  possible  with  the 
other  breeds.  Merinos  are  very  active  and  rustle  for  themselves 
under  unfavorable  conditions. 

The  breeding  qualities  of  the  American  Merino  are  rather 
inferior.  The  lambs  of  the  heavy-fleeced  sort  are  often  weak 
when  dropped ;  the  ewes  are  not  very  prolific  and  are  not  supe- 
rior milkers.  In  1903  Mr.  C.  S.  Chapman,  one  of  Ohio's  best- 
known  breeders,  wrote  : 

For  many  years  previous  to  1880  my  father  and  I  were  breeders  of  the 
heavy-folded  Merinos,  having  ewes  shearing  18  to  20  pounds  each,  and 
using  rams  shearing  30  to  36  pounds  each,  from  the  flocks  of  the  best 
breeders  in  Vermont.  We  had  our  sheep  bred  so  strongly  to  the  pro- 
duction of  wool  that  we  could  not  raise  over  50  to  60  per  cent  of  the 


352 


SHEEP 


lamb  crop.  They  (the  lambs)  would  be  so  feeble  when  dropped  that  in  a 
majority  of  cases  you  could  not  tell  for  twenty-four  hours  whether  they  had 
vitality  enough  to  live. 

They,  however,  breed  far  longer  than  the  average  sheep  and 
raise  a  fair  percentage  of  lambs. 

The  early  maturing  qualities  of  the  American  Merino  are  of 
secondary  character,  the  lambs  developing  more  slowly  than  the 
mutton  breeds. 

The  distribution  of  the  Merino  has  been  general  all  over  the 
civilized  world  where  sheep  husbandry  is  followed  at  all.  Aus- 
tralia, New  Zealand,  Germany,  and  the  United  States  are  the 
leading  countries  breeding  sheep  of  the  American  Merino  type. 
These  sheep  have  been  bred  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States, 
but  are  not  so  popular  as  they  were  a  half  century  ago,  now  that 
mutton  is  more  in  demand  and  wool  has  depreciated  in  value. 
Further,  sheep  of  the  American  type,  with  numerous  folds,  are 
objected  to,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  in  shearing,  so  that 
smooth-bodied  Merinos  are  more  popular  than  the  American. 
At  the  present  time  Ohio,  Vermont,  New  York,  Michigan,  Wis- 
consin, and  Missouri  are  the  states  containing  the  principal  flocks 
of  this  class.  Many  Merinos  have  been  exported  from  Vermont 
and  Ohio  to  South  Africa,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  Tasmania, 
and  South  America. 

Organizations  to  promote  Merino  sheep  are  numerous.  The  Ver- 
mont Merino  Sheep  Breeders'  Association,  organized  in  1879,  has 
published  four  volumes  of  flock  books  and  registered  over  300,000 
sheep,  mainly  as  flocks.  The  United  States  Merino  Sheep 
Register  was  organized  in  Ohio  in  1876,  and  published  a  volume 
of  its  flock  book  the  same  year.  In  1882  the  Ohio  Spanish 
Merino  Sheep  Breeders'  Association  was  organized  at  Columbus, 
and  published  its  first  volume  in  1885.  The  National  Record  of 
the  American  Merino  Sheep  Register  was  organized  in  1881  in 
Wisconsin,  the  first  volume  of  the  flock  book  being  published  in 
1882.  The  New  York  Merino  Sheep  Breeders' Association  was 
organized  in  1879  and  the  Michigan  Merino  Association  in  1880. 
In  other  states  associations  for  recording  Merino  sheep  also 
organized,  but  these  have  never  become  very  active  factors  in 
the  Merino  industry.    In  January,  1906,  a  conference  of  Merino 


THE  AMERICAN   MERINO 


353 


breeders,  representing  different  registry  associations,  was  held  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  consolidating  into  one  strong 
organization.  This  resulted  in  the  incorporation  of  the  American 
and  Delaine-Merino  Record  Association.  By  official  action  the 
Standard  Delaine,  the  International  Delaine,  and  the  Improved 
Spanish  Delaine  associations  merged  into  the  new  organization. 
This,  it  is  hoped,  is  the  beginning  of  a  movement  of  consolidation 


Fig.  155.  Ringleader  553,  a  Delaine  Merino  ram,  bred  by  and  shown  by 
A.  T.  Gamber,  Wakeman,  Ohio.  This  ram  has  never  been  defeated  in 
the  show  ring.  In  1903,  as  a  yearling,  he  was  first  at  the  state  fairs  of 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kentucky,  and  Michigan.  Also  shown  with  equal 
success  in  1904.    Photograph  by  the  author 

which  will  result  in  greatly  unifying  and  strengthening  Merino 
interests.  In  1904  about  nineteen  Merino  associations  of  differ- 
ent kinds,  organized  to  register  sheep,  were  in  existence.  Many 
of  these  are  now  very  weak  organizations,  transacting  but  little 
business. 

Some  famous  Merino  rams  are  worthy  of  note  on  account  of 
their  influence  in  improving  the  breed.  Among  these  are  the 
following :  Bolivar,  born  in  1820,  died  in  1834,  owned  by  W.  R. 


354 


SHEEP 


Dickinson  and  others  in  Ohio  ;  Consul^  bred  about  1838  by 
William  Jarvis  ;  Stickney  s  Consul,  bred  by  Jarvis  in  1835; 
Calif ornioy  bred  in  1858  by  Victor  Wright ;  Comet,  bred  in  1861 
by  W.  R.  Sanford  of  Vermont,  and  later  taken  to  Ohio  ;  Eureka 
by  Comet,  and  Kilpatrick  by  Comet,  both  bred  by  Sanford ; 
Wooster,  bred  in  1849  by  Edwin  Hammond,  sired  Young  Match- 
less and  Old  Greasy  ;  Gold  Drop,  bred  in  1861  by  Edwin  Ham- 
mond, who  was  several  times  offered  $10,000  for  him,  and  who 
valued  him  at  $25,000  ;  Stowell's  Sweepstakes,  bred  in  i860  by 
Edwin  Hammond  ;  Golden  Fleece  by  Stowell's  Sweepstakes,  bred 
in  1 862,  said  to  have  earned  his  owner  over  $20,000 ;  General 
Fremont,  bred  in  1865  by  Tyler  Stickney;  Bismarck,  owned  by 
H.  C.  Burwell  of  Vermont,  that  was  sweepstakes  Merino  in  1876 
at  the  Centennial  Exposition  ;  Banker,  bred  in  1875  by  V.  Rich 
of  Vermont;  Rams,  bred  in  1874  by  Geo.  Hammond,  winner 
in  1880  of  first  prize  as  a  sire  at  the  International  Sheep  Show 
at  Philadelphia  ;  Don  Dudley,  bred  in  1891  by  J.  P.  Ray  of  New 
York  ;  and  More  Quality,  bred  in  1 898  by  R.  D.  Williamson  of 
Ohio,  was  sire  of  many  of  the  prize  winners  at  the  Louisiana 
Purchase  Exposition  in  1904. 

High  prices  for  Merinos  have  been  paid.  In  1808  James 
Wadsworth  paid  Humphreys  $1000  for  a  ram,  and  in  March, 
18 10,  Colonel  Humphreys  sold  two  rams  and  two  ewes  for 
$6000  to  go  to  Kentucky.  This  year,  18 10,  there  was  a  Merino 
mania  on,  and  many  sheep  changed  hands  at  phenomenal  prices. 
On  September  22,  18 10,  an  auction  of  215  Paular  Merinos  at  the 
country  home  of  F.  B.  Winthrop,  Home's  Neck,  New  York, 
brought  $57,000,  averaging  $265  each.  Many  thousand  Me- 
rinos were  imported  in  18 10  and  181 1,  and  were  largely  sold 
at  auction,  bringing  abnormally  high  prices.  Then  came  a 
collapse,  and  Merinos  were  sold  for  a  song.  Again  in  the  early 
sixties  high  prices  prevailed,  and  many  sheep  sold  at  thousands 
of  dollars  each.  The  people  of  Australia  have  long  paid  high 
prices  for  Merino  rams.  The  ram  President  sold  for  1600  guineas 
($8000)  to  go  to  Tasmania,  and  several  of  his  sons  sold  for 
1000  guineas  each.  The  following  rams  also  sold  in  Australia 
for  the  prices  affixed  :  Sir  Thomas,  680  guineas  ;  Sir  Thomas  2d, 
404  guineas  ;  Golden  Horn,  560  guineas  ;  Golden  Horn  2d,  630 


THE  AMERICAN  MERINO 


355 


guineas  ;  Golden  Tom,  500  guineas.  Many  sheep  have  been 
shipped  from  Vermont  and  Ohio  to  Australia  at  prices  from 
$500  upward  per  head,  several  sales  being  made  in   1906. 

A  notable  American  Merino  show-ring  victory,  worthy  of  record 
here,  occurred  in  1863,  when  George  Campbell  of  Vermont 
exhibited  twelve  Vermont-bred  Merinos  at  the  International 
Exposition  at  Hamburg,  Germany.  There  were  1771  sheep 
entered  in  competition,  913  being  Merinos  from  every  part  of 


Fig.  156.  Stickney,  a  Delaine  Merino  ram  at  the  head  of  the  flock  of 
G.  B.  Quinn  of  Ohio.  This  ram  sheared  25  pounds.  Photograph  from 
the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 


Europe,  —  France,  Italy,  Austria,  Russia,  and  Germany  being 
represented.  The  twelve  sheep  shown  by  Mr.  Campbell  were 
the  only  ones  from  the  United  States,  and  these  took  three 
premiums,  two  firsts  and  one  second,  one  first  being  for  length 
of  staple  and  one  for  weight  of  fleece.  These  prize  sheep  were 
later  sold  to  Count  Shen  Thors  of  Silesia  for  $5000.  This  was  a 
great  testimonial  to  the  superiority  of  American  Merinos. 

Important  subtypes  or  families  of  the  Merino  exist  to-day. 
Among  these  are  the  Delaine  and  the  Rambouillet,  which  are 


356  SHEEP 

discussed  separately  further  on.  There  are  also  several  other 
families,  which  are  now  of  less  importance  than  formerly,  not- 
ably the  Atwood  and  Paular.  The  former  was  established  by 
Stephen  Atwood  and  later  was  especially  promoted  by  Edwin 
Hammond.  It  was  a  type  having  many  folds  and  was  very 
popular  from  1845  to  1895.  The  Paular  comes  from  Spanish 
stock  imported  by  Andrew  Cocks  and  later  improved  in  the  hands 
of  Jehiel  Biedle,  Tyler  Stickney,  Erastus  Robinson,  and  the  Rich 
family  of  Vermont.  This  also  possessed  many  folds  and  a  large 
amount  of  oil.  in  the  fleece.  Both  the  Atwood  and  Paular  families 
are  important  strains  of  the  American  Merino  stock.  The  Saxon 
Merino  at  one  time  had  some  popularity  in  America,  especially 
in  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio,  but  this  family  has  now 
but  very  few  pure-bred  representatives  and  these  mainly  in  Penn- 
sylvania. It  deteriorated  so  in  weight  of  fleece  and  constitution 
as  to  be  generally  discarded. 


CHAPTER  XLVII 


THE    DELAINE    MERINO 


The  word  "  Delaine' '  is  derived  from  two  French  words,  de> 
signifying  of  or  from,  and  laine,  meaning  wool  or  woolen.  The 
word  in  the  woolen  trade  indicates  a  class  of  wool  used  to  make 
fine  untwilled  worsted  dress  goods.  A  combing  process  takes 
place,  in  which  the  fibers  of  wool  are  drawn  parallel  with  each 
other  and  spun  at  full  length  in  the  yarn,  thus  securing  the  full 
strength  of  the  fiber  and 
making  the  strongest  and 
most  durable  of  woolen 
dress  goods.  This  was  due 
to  an  invention  of  E.  R. 
Mudge  of  Boston.  Previ- 
ous to  this  time  only  coarse 
wools  were  combed,  fine 
wools  being  carded,  a  pro- 
cess inferior  to  combing. 

Delaine  Merino  types 
exist  under  several  names, 
these  being  of  American 
Merino  ancestry,  bred 
mainly  by  selection  into  a 
variety  quite  or  nearly  free 
from  folds,  of  the  smooth- 
bodied  sort.  These  types 
differ  in  a  limited  degree,  being  really  very  much  alike. 

The  origin  of  the  Delaine  Merino  traces  back  to  the  Humph- 
reys importation  of  1802  and  that  of  R.  W.  Meade  about  1820. 
From  these  flocks  certain  selections  were  made  and  types  gradu- 
ally evolved  from  them,  breeders  generally  keeping  in  mind  both 
mutton  and  wool  production. 

357 


Fig.  157.  Gamber's  Model,  a  very  choice 
specimen  of  Delaine  Merino  ewe,  bred  and 
exhibited  by  A.  T.  Gamber.  This  ewe  was 
first  in  class  at  the  Ohio  State  Fair  in  1905. 
Photograph  by  the  author 


358 


SHEEP 


The  Dickinson  Delaine  was  named  after  William  R.  Dickinson 
who  lived  for  years  at  Steubenville,  Ohio,  where  he  was  an 
extensive  breeder  of  sheep.  About  1807  or  1808  Thomas 
Rotch,  a  Quaker,  moved  from  Connecticut  to  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  bringing  with  him  a  small  flock  of  sheep,  some  of  which 
were  from  the  Humphreys  importation.    In  1809  Mr.  Dickinson 


Fig.  158.  A  Delaine  Merino  ewe  of  very  superior  character,  successfully 
exhibited  by  C.  H.  Bell  of  Ohio.  Photograph  from  the  National  Stock- 
man and  Farmer 


became  the  owner  of  some  of  these  imported  sheep  of  Mr.  Rotch, 
which  he  kept  by  themselves  and  carefully  bred.  In  1820  Adam 
Hildebrand  became  superintendent  of  Mr.  Dickinson's  farm,  thus 
getting  acquainted  with  Mr.  Dickinson's  sheep  and  his  methods. 
In  his  flock  was  a  smooth-bodied  ram  named  Bolivar,  that  became 
a  great  prize  winner  for  his  individual  merit.  In  1830  the  Dick- 
inson flock  was  sold,  and  Hildebrand  obtained  some  of  the  best 
sheep.    In  1823  Mr.  James  McDowell  became  an  employee  of 


THE   DELAINE   MERINO  359 

Mr.  Dickinson,  and  later  went  into  the  service  of  Mr.  Hildebrand. 
A  part  of  his  remuneration  was  to  be  "  a  selection  of  the  best 
two  ewe  lambs  and  the  second-best  ram  lamb  of  the  last  crop  of 
lambs  bred  by  Mr.  Dickinson,  descended  from  the  select  Hum- 
phreys flock  and  sired  by  Bolivar."  These  lambs,  according  to 
Mr.  McDowell,  were  the  foundation  stock  of  the  Dickinson  Me- 
rinos, and  the  McDowell  family  of  Stark  County,  Ohio,  notably 
H.  G.  McDowell,  has  been  the  leading  improver  of  this  variety. 

Characteristics  of  Dickinson  Delaines.  The  standard  of  excel- 
lence of  the  Dickinson  Merino  Association  specifies  that  this 
sheep  shall  have  a  deep,  round,  wide,  and  long  body,  showing 
mutton  capacity,  carrying  heavy,  thick  flesh,  the  top  and  under 
lines  being  straight,  and  the  skin  smooth,  pink,  and  well  filled  out, 
being  free  of  folds.  The  head  may  have  small  horns,  but  a  polled 
head  is  preferred  ;  the  nose  is  covered  with  fine  white  hairs,  and 
the  ears  are  small  and  also  covered  with  silky  hairs.  The  fleece 
extends  over  the  body  excepting  the  lower  part  of  the  nose,  the 
legs  also  being  wooled  to  the  toes.  The  fleece  should  be  from 
three  to  five  inches  long,  of  a  quality  graded  as  XX  or  XXX 
fine  Delaine  combing.  Rams  should  shear  15  to  25  pounds  and 
ewes  10  to  15  pounds  unwashed  wool.  The  fleece  is  not  so  oily 
as  that  of  some  of  the  Merinos,  but  carries  enough  oil  for  good 
quality.  The  size  of  the  Dickinson  Delaine  runs  large,  the 
standard  for  mature  rams  being  200  pounds,  and  for  ewes  150 
pounds.  The  mutton  qualities  of  this  family  have  been  especially 
looked  to  by  the  breeders,  so  that  they  rank  well  in  this  respect. 
Wonderful,  one  of  the  best-known  Dickinson  rams,  bred  by 
H.  G.  McDowell,  weighed  200  pounds  when  two  years  old  and 
his  second  fleece  weighed  26  pounds. 

The  National  Delaine.  About  1820  Mr.  R.  W.  Meade,  at  one 
time  Minister  to  Spain,  imported  some  Merinos  to  this  country. 
Most  of  these  sheep  were  taken  to  the  farm  of  Alexander  Wilson 
near  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  In  1821  or  thereabouts  Alex- 
ander Reed  of  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  purchased 
these  Meade  sheep  as  well  as  other  Merinos  and  placed  them  on 
his  farm.  From  this  Meade  importation  the  Delaine  type  was 
first  developed,  tracing  back  to  Reed  stock ;  but  the  family  was 
mainly  established  through  the  careful  breeding  operations  of 


360 


SHEEP 


John  McNary,  W.  H.  McNary,  J.  S.  McNary,  Ebenezer  McClel- 
land, George  Craighead,  George  Murray,  and  William  Brownlee. 
In  connection  with  the  development  of  this  family  R.  H.  Russell 
of  Pennsylvania  and  C.  H.  Beall  of  West  Virginia  played  an 
important  part.  In  1862  a  ram  of  Spanish  and  Black  Top  blood 
purchased  from  Beall  was  used  in  the  flock  descended  from 
McClelland,  then  in  the  hands  of  his  sons.  In  1877  R.  H.  Rus- 
sell, who  began  his  flock  in  1852  with  fifty  Black  Top  Merinos 
from  William  Davis,  with  J.  C.  McNary  purchased  a  Spanish 
ram  named  Victor,  bred  by  J.  M.  Miller,  which  was  used  in  their 

flocks.  Both  of  these  rams 
were  very  prepotent  and 
unusually  fine  individuals. 
The  descendants  of  these 
two  rams  nicked  to  great 
advantage,  resulting  in 
high-class  Delaines  that 
were  long  known  as  Victor- 
Beall  Delaine  Merinos.  It 
can  thus  be  seen  that  the 
Delaine  strain  was  devel- 
oped by  a  combination  of 
Black  Top  and  Spanish 
blood,  or  a  combination  of 
smooth -bodied  with 
wrinkled  Merino. 
Characteristics  of  National,  Standard,  or  Victor-Beall  Delaines. 
These  are  essentially  much  like  the  Dickinson  family.  The  body 
is  smooth,  excepting  for  slight  folds  at  the  neck,  and  perhaps  at 
the  breast  in  the  form  of  an  apron.  The  rams  may  or  may  not 
have  horns.  According  to  Mr.  S.  M.  Cleaver,  Secretary  of  the 
Standard  Delaine  Association,  writing  in  1890  : 

The  demand  of  the  times  calls  for  a  plain  hody  growing  a  Delaine  staple. 
Long  experience  teaches  us  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  keep  up  density 
and  weight  of  fleece  to  give  the  best  results  when  wrinkles  are  entirely  done 
away  with  ;  for  this  reason  it  is  important  to  stay  in  the  blood  of  wrinkly 
sheep  in  selecting  the  sires,  yet  striving  to  keep  the  body  clear  of  wrinkles 
and  the  neck  nearly  so.  It  is  proposed  to  pay  more  attention  to  a  good 
broad  back  and  deep,  round  quarters,  making  a  type  easily  kept  in  order. 


Fig.  159.  Wonderful  700,  a  Dickinson  De- 
laine Merino  ram  bred  by  H.  G.  McDowell, 
Canton,  Ohio.  Grand-champion  Delaine 
ram  at  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition, 
Chicago,  1893.  Photograph  from  the  owner 


THE  DELAINE   MERINO 


361 


While  the  fleece  will  not  be  as  heavy  as  in  the  wrinkly  type,  it  should  weigh 
from  seven  to  nine  pounds,  and  sell  without  any  reduction.  This  will  equal 
an  oily  fleece  of  twelve  to  fourteen  pounds,  with  a  third  taken  off  by  the 
wool  buyer.  Plain  sheep,  as  a  rule,  are  better  milkers,  more  careful  mothers, 
have  better  feet,  and  are  the  easier  to  prepare  for  the  butcher's  block. 

Sheep  of  this  variety  should  have  a  staple  three  inches  long 
for  twelve  months'  growth.  Rams  at  maturity  should  weigh  at 
least   150  pounds  and  ewes  not  less  than   100  pounds. 

The  Black  Top  Spanish  Merino.  The  foundation  of  this  variety 
extends  back  to  the  1802  importation  of  Colonel  Humphreys. 
Mr.  W.  R.  Dickinson  of  Ohio,  about  1809,  purchased  of  Thomas 
Rotch  some  sheep  of  Humphreys's  importation.    In  Dickinson's 


Fig.  160.    A  group  of  Dickinson  Delaine  Merino  ewes  bred  by  Mr.  H.  G. 
McDowell  and  very  typical  of  this  family.    Photograph  from  the  owner 

hands  these  sheep  were  bred  with  some  care  for  about  twenty 
years.  In  182 1  William  Berry  of  Washington  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, purchased  from  Mr.  Dickinson  a  few  ewes  and  a  choice  ram 
of  Spanish  breeding.  These  sheep  Mr.  Berry  bred  with  care, 
developing  a  large  flock.  Mr.  Berry  bred  his  flock  in  family  lines 
at  first,  and  then  crossed  the  families,  endeavoring  to  produce  a 
large,  heavy-shearing,  fine-wool  sheep  with  smooth  body  of  mutton 
value.  In  his  breeding  he  decided  that  those  sheep  with  the 
darkest  outer  covering  of  wool  or  most  oil  had  the  hardiest  con- 
stitutions and  most  vigor,  and  were  less  affected  by  change  of 
climate  than  those  with  fleeces  of  lighter  color.  Thus  he  selected 
the  darker  sort  and  termed  these  Black  Tops.  In  1847  his  flock 
numbered  about   500  head,   when  he  divided  equally   between 


362 


SHEEP 


his  sons,  Matthew  and  William,  they  taking  choice  alternately. 
Matthew  Berry  maintained  his  flock  in  pure  Black  Top  lines, 
while  William  bred  likewise  until  1856,  when  he  introduced  Ver- 
mont Merino  blood,  with  inferior  results,  which  finally  caused  him 
to  dispose  of  his  flock.  The  flocks  of  William  Berry  and  his  sons, 
notably  Matthew,  are  the  foundation  of  this  family. 

The  Improved  Black  Top  Merino  is  a  family  that  has  its  founda- 
tion in  ten  ewes  purchased  in  1 844  of  George  Craighead  by  Robert 
Johnston  of  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania.  These  ewes  were 
bred  to  Craighead  rams  until  1847,  after  which,  till  1853,  rams 
bred  by  Alexander  McConnell  were  used,  the  latter  obtaining  his 
foundation  stock  from  W.  R.  Dickinson.  From  1853  to  1867  Mr. 
Johnston  used  only  pure  Black  Top  rams  in  his  flock,  and  from 
1867  to  1884  used  rams  bought  from  Matthew  Berry.  In  1850 
George  Black  of  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  purchased 
twenty-five  Black  Top  ewes  running  back  to  Dickinson  stock,  and 
by  use  of  Berry  and  Johnston  and  other  rams,  established  a  Black 
Top  flock  that  is  foundation  stock  in  this  family.  This  Black  Top 
family  has  been  assumed  by  its  promoters  to  be  more  carefully 
selected  and  of  higher  standard  than  the  Black  Top  Spanish. 

Characteristics  of  the  Black  Top  Merino.  It  is  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish this  from  the  Delaine,  of  which  it  is  really  a  variety. 
The  size  is  a  trifle  larger  perhaps,  and  the  fleece  weighs  a  little 
heavier.  The  Improved  Black  Top  standard  requires  a  weight 
for  mature  rams  of  at  least  180  pounds  and  130  pounds  for  ewes. 
The  Black  Top  also  has  a  somewhat  darker  fleece  on  the  outside, 
and  is  not  quite  so  heavily  wooled  over  the  head  as  is  the  Delaine. 
The  fleece  should  be  from  three  to  four  inches  long,  and  the  rams 
should  shear  thirteen  to  fourteen  pounds  and  the  ewes  seven  to 
twelve  pounds  of  brook- washed  wool.  The  rams  have  horns  while 
the  ewes  are  hornless.  Emphasis  is  placed  on  the  mutton  char- 
acter of  this  family,  which  has  long  been  bred  with  that  feature 
in  view.  The  Black  Top  has  been  likened  to  the  Southdown  in 
size  and  form,  with  the  fleece  of  a  Merino.  The  back  is  of  good 
breadth,  and  is  thickly  fleshed,  while  the  hind  quarters  are  heavy 
and  of  mutton  type. 

The  maintenance  of  Delaine  type  in  these  varieties  is  by  selec- 
tion or  by  introducing  new  blood.    For  example,  one  may  visit  the 


THE  DELAINE  MERINO 


363 


flocks  of  prominent  Merino  breeders,  in  which  both  American  and 
Delaine  sheep  are  found.  The  former  are  mated  with  the  latter, 
according  to  circumstances,  in  order  to  regulate  type  and  wool 
production.  If  a  Delaine  ewe  of  excellent  mutton  type  has  too 
open  and  light  a  fleece,  she  will  be  bred  to  an  American  ram  of 
high  wool-producing  qualities,  with  the  expectation  of  obtaining 
a  Delaine  with  a  better  fleece.    More  folds  may  exist  at  the  neck 


1 

&^K 

J 

K-*"-'      ■y.'3fr.-& 

A 

t,*v  •   CN§ 

€ 

v^'\'&j£H*^                      mum 

wHfSryj 

W!3m£j&m&&i. '                                              vl 

r  >-  ":*L*jW  ■   ,)jMF                                                                                       '  ■■' £ 

IP  - '' >if8^r  ' z&&5&$xE&~ 

JsR-  £ $*#*£' ■  -j 

•  •             "      i 

wm"-d?'J'- 

W^'<:    '*£'*£: 

'■-'■-    i 

'-     ^*'.>\   ■     1    *         -x  '..       ,/^4,;..<   \ 

JV 

I 

%•  ' 

Fig.  161.  A  Black  Top  Merino  ewe,  first  prize  at  the  Ohio  State  Fair,  1905. 
Exhibited  by  R.  D.  McGonigle  &  Sons  of  Ohio.  Photograph  from  the 
American  Sheep  Breeder 

and  breast,  but  not  enough  to  furnish  serious  objection  on  the 
part  of  the  Delaine  breeder.  The  important  thing  is  to  keep  up 
the  size  and  mutton  form  without  reducing  the  amount  and  char- 
acter of  the  wool  below  a  satisfactory  grade.  This  calls  for  a 
fleece  to  grade  XX  or  better  and  have  a  staple  of  superior  length, 
diameter,  strength,  and  crimp.  There  should  also  be  plenty  of  free- 
flowing  oil,  essential  for  a  high-grade  fleece. 

The  mutton  value  of  the  Delaine  has  long  been  emphasized, 
and  is  an  important  argument  advanced  by  breeders  in  its  behalf. 


364 


SHEEP 


The  wethers  mature  fairly  early  and  sell  at  a  comparatively  satis- 
factory price  in  the  market,  being  in  demand  on  account  of  usually 
being  not  over  fat.  They  will  not  dress  out  quite  so  well  as  the 
true  mutton  type,  but  show  a  fair  per  cent  of  carcass  to  offal.  In 
1882  McClelland  Brothers  of  Pennsylvania  sheared  100  three- 
year-old  wethers  that  averaged  eleven  pounds  washed  Delaine 
wool,  after  which  the  sheep  on  the  market  weighed  1  io^  pounds 
each.  In  1884,  in  Pittsburg  market,  James  McClelland  sold  a 
car  load  of  three-year-old  wethers  that  averaged  114^  pounds 
and  brought  seven  cents  per  pound  on  the  hoof. 

The  breeding  quality  of  the  Delaine  is  distinctly  superior  to  the 
American  Merino.  Breeders  have  sought  to  produce  better  breed- 
ing stock, — more  prolific,  larger  milkers,  and  better  mothers. 
This  will  apply  generally  to  the  Delaine  type.  The  lambs  also 
are  more  robust  at  birth  and  more  readily  raised. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Delaine  is  valued  on  the  range.  Pure- 
bred rams  used  on  range  ewes  give  a  better  mutton  sheep  and 
are  better  suited  to  the  range  trade  than  where  American  Merino 
rams  are  used.  Many  Delaine  rams  have  been  shipped  West  for 
this  purpose. 

The  Delaine  as  a  feeder  ranks  at  the  head  of  the  Merino  group, 
though  not  equal  to  the  mutton  breeds.  The  lambs  at  twelve  months 
may  be  turned  on  the  market,  weighing  eighty  pounds  or  so. 

The  adaptability  of  the  Delaine  is  not  equal  to  that  of  the 
American  Merino,  for  it  lacks  the  rustling  qualities  to  some 
extent.  Delaines  will  do  well  in  mountainous  districts  where 
grass  is  abundant;  in  fact  they  have  had  their  greatest  develop- 
ment in  the  hills  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  They  also  do  well 
on  rolling  lands  where  food  is  abundant. 

The  distribution  of  the  Delaine  is  widespread  in  the  United 
States,  and  is  constantly  growing.  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Michigan, 
New  York,  and  Iowa  have  many  flocks,  notably  the  two  former 
states.  The  Black  Top  is  found  more  especially  in  Pennsylvania 
and  the  Dickinson  in  Ohio.  The  distribution  of  the  smooth- 
bodied  Merino  is  sure  to  grow  in  favor,  on  account  of  the  ease  of 
shearing  and  the  objection  to  the  American  Merino  on  this  point. 

Organizations  to  promote  the  Delaine  Merino  began  in  1882 
with  the  Victor-Beall  Delaine  Merino  Sheep  Breeders'  Association 


THE   DELAINE  MERINO  365 

established  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1887  this  name  was  changed 
to  the  National  Delaine  Merino  Sheep  Breeders'  Association.  In 
1890  the  Standard  Delaine  Spanish  Merino  Sheep  Breeders' 
Association  was  organized  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  same  year 
the  Improved  Delaine  Merino  Sheep  Breeders'  Association  was 
incorporated  in  Ohio.  In  1882  the  Ohio  Spanish  Delaine  Merino 
Sheep  Breeders'  Association  was  also  organized.  In  1883  the 
Black  Top  Spanish  Merino  Sheep  Breeders  organized  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1885  the  Improved  Black 
Top  Merino  Association  organized  in  the  same  state.  In  1884 
the  Dickinson  Delaine  Merino  Sheep  Breeders'  Association  was 
organized  in  Ohio.  These  several  Delaine  associations  have  pub- 
lished a  few  flock  books  and  have  registered  several  thousand 
sheep.  In  January,  1906,  a  conference  of  Delaine  Merino 
breeders,  members  of  different  registry  associations,  met  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in  extended  discussion  of  the 
wisdom  of  a  consolidation  of  Merino  sheep  registry  associations. 
As  a  result  of  this  meeting,  directly  following  the  conference,  the 
Improved  Delaine,  Standard  Delaine,  and  International  Delaine 
Sheep  Associations  consolidated  into  the  American  Delaine- 
Merino  Record  Association.  The  object  of  the  new  association 
is  to  promote  the  purity  of  breeding,  registering,  and  preserving 
the  American  Merino  sheep,  in  accordance  with  the  types  A,  B, 
and  C.  The  new  association  secures  a  combined  membership 
from  the  three  old  ones  of  several  hundred  persons.  It  is  antici- 
pated that  still  other  associations  will  unite  with  the  new  one 
and  thus  reduce  the  number  in  the  field  and  so  simplify  the 
business  of  registration. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII 


THE  RAMBOUILLET 


The  native  home  of  the  Rambouillet  is  in  France,  in  the  north- 
ern part,  not  far  from  Paris.  The  country  is  gently  rolling,  the 
soil  is  generally  of  a  calcareous  nature,  and  the  climate  is  quite 
temperate,  being  warm  in  summer  and  not  severe  in  winter. 
Grasses,  wheat  and  oats,  and  a  variety  of  crops  grow  in  this  region. 

The  ancestry  of  the  Rambouillet  is  Spanish,  this  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  great  Merino  family.  The  people  of  Spain  in  early 
days  produced  more  wool  than  their  factories  could  consume,  so 
the  surplus  was  exported,  France  buying  heavily.    The  French 


Fig.  162.    A  dignified  gateway  on  the  government  farm  at  Rambouillet, 
France.     Photograph  by  the  author 


government  anticipated  an  increase  of  factories  in  Spain  and  con- 
sequent restriction  on  exports  of  wool  from  that  country.  This 
led  the  French  to  try  to  improve  their  flocks  and  produce  enough 
fine  wool  at  home  to  meet  domestic  demands.    In  1783  Louis  XVI 

366 


THE  RAMBOUILLET 


367 


of  France  bought  a  large  estate  at  the  village  of  Rambouillet,  some 
forty  miles  west  of  Paris,  and  here  he  established  a  farm.  In  1786 
M.  Gilbert  was  sent  to  Spain  and  selected  a  flock  of  Spanish 
Merinos  representing  several  different  families,  landing  366  at 


Rambouillet,  318 


being  ewes. 


In    1799  Gilbert 


went  to 


Mr 

f 

- 

Fig.  163.    One  of  the  sheep  barns  on  the  government  farm  at  Rambouillet, 
France.    Photograph  by  the  author 

Spain,  where  after  much  difficulty  another  collection  was  secured, 
of  which  237  reached  Rambouillet  in  May,  1801.  According  to 
Gilbert,  who  collected  these  sheep,  and  died  in  Spain  while  doing 
the  work,  the  second  lot  was  not  the  equal  of  the  first. 

The  improvement  of  the  Rambouillet  in  the  hands  of  the 
French  government  dates  back  over  a  century,  resulting  in  a 
smooth-bodied  sheep  of  large  size.  Much  of  this  development  of 
over  a  hundred  years  has  undoubtedly  been  accomplished  by 
selection.  During  the  time  France  has  bred  these  sheep  many 
careful  records  have  been  made  of  weights  of  the  sheep  and 
fleece,  of  length  and  diameter  of  wool,  of  fecundity,  mutton  devel- 
opment, etc.  Probably  no  other  such  extensive  records  regarding 
a  breed  are  extant.  The  results  of  the  work  were  a  gradual  in- 
crease in  size,  in  weight  and  quality  of  fleece,  in  a  better  mutton 
form,  and  in  more  hardiness  than  had  their  Spanish  ancestors. 
While  the  claim  has  been  made  that  the  stock  at  Rambouillet  has 


368  SHEEP 

been  kept  pure,  in  1900  the  author  saw  rams  in  the  government 
flock,  heavy  with  folds,  quite  Spanish  in  character,  and  quite 
different  from  the  proper  French  type.  The  Rambouillet  Merino 
was  also  developed  by  private  parties  in  France  and  Germany. 
In  1800,  M.  Victor  Gilbert  of  Wideville,  France,  started  a  flock 
from  one  ram  and  eight  ewes  bought  of  the  government,  and  this 
flock  was  maintained  in  the  same  family  by  his  son  and  grandson, 
Victor,  for  a  century.  In  northern  Germany  the  breed  was  later 
introduced  and  was  much  developed,  notably  in  the  region  south 
of  the  Baltic  Sea  and  north  and  northeast  of  Berlin.  Baron 
F.  Von  Homey er  of  Ranzin,  Pomerania,  became  the  greatest 
German  improver  and  increased  the  size,  and  weight  and  quality 
of  fleece.  Mr.  W.  G.  Markham  of  New  York  State  in  1880, 
when  on  a  visit  to  wool-producing  countries,  inspected  the  Von 
Homeyer  flock  and  looked  on  it  with  much  favor.  In  1882  he 
received  a  gift  of  a  ram  and  two  ewes  from  Von  Homeyer,  and 
these  were  the  first  of  this  German  breeding  to  be  brought 
to  America.  In  1885  Markham  received  seven  rams  from  the 
same  source,  two  of  which  were  shipped  to  Michigan  where  they 
produced  material  improvement  in  the  flocks  where  used.  In 
1 89 1  some  Michigan  breeders  imported  seven  rams  and  sixteen 
ewes  from  the  Von  Homeyer  flock,  and  these  were  distributed 
among  the  Rambouillet  men  of  Michigan.  In  1893  Mr.  Markham 
supervised  an  exhibit  of  Von  Homeyer  sheep  at  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago  which  attracted  widespread 
attention  from  their  great  size  and  superior  merit.  This  family 
of  Merinos  is  now  extensively  bred  in  Germany. 

The  introduction  of  the  Rambouillet  to  the  United  States  first 
occurred  in  1840,  under  the  name  of  French  Merino,  by  which 
title  it  was  generally  known  until  about  1889.  The  first  importa- 
tion appears  to  have  been  made  in  1840  by  D.  C.  Collins  of 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  consisting  of  two  rams  and  twenty  ewes 
from  the  government  flock  of  France.  The  head  ram,  named 
Grandee,  sheared  fourteen  pounds  and  was  regarded  as  a  very 
fine  specimen.  In  1846  this  flock  with  its  increase  was  sold  to 
parties  in  Vermont.  In  May,  1846,  John  A.  Taintor  of  Connecti- 
cut imported  two  rams  and  seven  ewes  which  he  purchased 
of  Victor  Gilbert.    Following  this,  Taintor  made  several  other 


THE  RAMBOUILLET 


369 


importations.  In  1848  John  D.  Patterson  of  Westfield,  New 
York,  on  the  western  border  of  that  state,  made  an  importation 
including  many  superior  sheep,  his  ewes  weighing  from  120  to 
150  pounds  and  some  of  his  rams  up  to  300  pounds.  In  185  1 
F.  M.  Rotch  of  New  York  is  said  to  have  made  an  importation  with 
Taintor  of  Connecticut.  That  same  year  S.  W.  Jewett  of  Middle- 
bury,  Vermont,  imported  eighteen  rams  and  eighty-two  ewes  from 
Victor  Gilbert,  and  George  Campbell  of  Westminster,  Vermont, 


Fig.  164.  A  Rambouillet  ram,  second  in  class  at  the  Ohio  State  Fair,  1905. 
Bred  and  exhibited  by  Max  Chapman,  Marysville,  Ohio.  Photograph 
by  the  author 

also  made  an  importation.  This  same  year  a  company  of  Ohio 
breeders  imported  about  50  head  selected  from  private  flocks  in 
France  by  A.  P.  Howard.  Some  of  the  present  Ohio  flocks  trace 
back  to  this  importation  as  well  as  to  a  later  one  of  188 1.  In 
185  1  Mr.  R.  C.  Moulton  of  Ohio,  now  over  eighty  years  old,  estab- 
lished his  flock  of  French  Merinos,  which  has  been  maintained 
by  him  ever  since,  this  probably  being  the  oldest  flock  under  one 
management  in  the  country.    In  1855  A.  R.  Seymour  of  Fayette 


37o 


SHEEP 


County,  Ohio,  bought  two  rams  and  twenty-five  ewes  of  Jewett. 
Along  about  1855  a  Mr.  Downs  of  Calhoun  County,  Michigan, 
bought  a  few  of  the  Patterson  sheep.  The  claim  has  been  made 
that  a  Mr.  Stanton  of  Michigan  purchased  from  Mr.  Patterson, 
from  which  stock  has  descended  the  flocks  of  some  of  the  promi- 
nent Michigan  breeders,  but  a  letter  before  the  writer,  written  by 
Mr.  Patterson  in  1893,  does  not  corroborate  this  claim.  Between 
1856  and  i860  most  of  the  sheep  owned  by  the  latter  gentleman 
were  sold  to  parties  in  California,  from  which  stock  the  French 
Merino  sheep  of  the  Pacific  slope  states  descend.  The  Blaco- 
Glide  flock  of  California  is  said  to  trace  back  to  this  Patterson 

blood.  What  are  now 
known  as  Franco-Merinos 
trace  back  into  early 
Michigan  flocks  of  years 
ago.  These  early  French 
Merinos  were  not  the  suc- 
cess anticipated,  not  being 
hardy  nor  suited  to  Amer- 
ican conditions,  and  the 
interest  declined  along  in 
the  sixties,  to  be  revived 
about  thirty  years  later. 
Many  large  importations 
have  been  made 
the  past  ten  years 
notably  about  1900. 
Characteristics  of  the  Rambouillet.  This  variety  or  family  of 
Merino  does  not  differ  so  essentially  in  appearance  from  the 
Delaine,  except  in  size  and  breeding.  The  head  is  large,  the  nose 
covered  with  white  silky  hair,  and  the  ears  are  inclined  to  be 
large  and  are  covered  with  fine  white  hair  or  short  fine  wool.  The 
rams  usually  have  large,  spirally  turned  horns,  but  there  are  also 
hornless  males  and  the  females  are  hornless.  The  wool  is  fairly 
compact  and  long,  averaging  about  three  inches,  and  covers  the 
entire  body,  extending  over  the  face  below  the  eyes  and  down  the 
legs  to  the  toes  in  good  specimens.  The  exterior  appearance  is 
of  a  sheep  of  good  size,  covered  with  a  fine,  rather  white  fleece, 


Fig.  165.  A  Rambouillet  ram,  imported  by 
Dwight  Lincoln,  Milford  Center,  Ohio. 
Photograph  by  the  author 


^   during 
and 


THE  RAMBOUILLET  37 1 

and  freer  from  oil  or  dark  coloring  than  is  the  Delaine,  while 
folds  occur  on  the  neck  and  breast  but  rarely  on  the  body  or 
hind  quarters.  One  is  impressed  at  times  with  a  tendency  to 
coarseness  of  bone  and  length  of  leg. 

The  size  of  the  Rambouillet  averages  larger  than  any  of  the 
other  Merinos ;  in  fact  years  ago  they  were  nicknamed  "  Elephant 
Merinos."  The  rams  will  average  about  185  pounds  at  maturity 
and  the  ewes  150  to  160.  Some  rams  are  said  to  have  weighed 
over  300  pounds,  and  cases  are  known  of  ewes  weighing  about 
250  pounds.  The  ram  Matchless,  imported  by  George  Campbell 
in  185 1  from  the  Gilbert  flock,  weighed  261  pounds.    Mr.  Max 


Fig.  166.  A  pair  of  Rambouillet  rams,  the  property  of  Henri  Gilbert, 
Wideville,  France.  These  sheep  had  been  shorn  but  a  few  weeks 
previous  to  the  time  the  author  took  the  photograph 

Chapman  of  Ohio  bred  the  ram  Sampson,  which  weighed  280 
pounds  at  twenty  months  old,  and  the  ewe  Bernice,  which  at 
three  years  weighed  244  pounds. 

The  Rambouillet  as  a  mutton  producer  ranks  very  well,  though 
inferior  to  the  mutton  breeds.  It  will  mature  fairly  rapidly  and 
will  produce  a  class  of  mutton  which  will  sell  well,  though  it  is 
not  of  the  highest  quality.  This  is  the  only  class  of  Merinos 
offered  a  place  for  exhibition  at  the  International  Live  Stock 
Exposition,  a  testimonial  to  the  mutton  value  of  the  wethers. 
In  the  Iowa  experiments  on  fattening  wether  lambs,  in  the  one 
trial  reported,  the  Rambouillet  made  an  average  daily  gain  of 
.37  pound,  requiring  1029  pounds  dry  matter  for  100  pounds 
gain.    In  the  carcass  test  the  Rambouillet  dressed  out  the  poorest 


372  SHEEP 

of  ten  breeds,  49.57  per  cent,  compared  with  55.26  for  the 
Southdown,  and  was  priced  at  $5.00  per  hundred  live  weight, 
compared  with  $5.75  for  the  Southdown. 

The  Rambouillet  as  a  wool  producer  ranks  well.  In  1838,  on 
the  farm  at  Rambouillet,  40  rams  yielded  an  average  fleece  of 
10  pounds  4  ounces,  and  201  ewes  and  85  lambs  an  average  of 
7  pounds.  The  years  1847,  1869,  and  1877  saw  a  gradual 
improvement  in  weight  and  quality  of  fleece,  the  latter  year  15 
adult  rams  averaging  16  pounds  9.3  ounces  weight  of  fleece, 
and  521  ewes  of  various  ages  10  pounds  3.1  ounces.  At  the 
present  time  it  is  doubtful  if  the  average  ram  will  shear  over 
15  pounds  and  the  average  ewe  over  10  pounds,  but  this,  of 
course,  does  not  apply  to  flocks  as  carefully  bred  as  that  at 
Rambouillet.  Mr.  Max  Chapman  of  Ohio  reports  that  the 
ewe  Hiawatha  bred  by  him  produced  one  year  29  pounds  of 
unwashed  wool.  The  fleece  of  this  breed  is  not  quite  so  fine 
as  that  of  the  other  Merinos  and  also  shows  somewhat  less  of 
oil  and  crimp. 

Cross-bred  or  grade  Rambouillet  sheep  are  best  known  on  the 
western  range,  where  for  some  years  large  numbers  of  pure-bred 
rams  have  been  shipped  from  Ohio  and  Michigan  for  use  on 
native  stock.  This  gives  a  larger,  better  mutton  type,  with  a 
strong  constitution,  and  at  the  same  time  increases  the  fleece 
value.  Not  only  this,  but  the  smooth-bodied  grade  is  more  in 
favor  with  the  shearer  on  the  range  than  the  smaller,  more 
wrinkled  sort.  Vermont  breeders  in  the  past  have  used  Ram- 
bouillet rams  on  American  ewes  to  produce  large,  vigorous  rams 
suited  to  the  southwestern  trade. 

The  breeding  qualities  of  the  Rambouillet  rank  well.  For 
twelve  years  preceding  1881  Bernardin,  then  in  charge  of  the 
government  flock  in  France,  reports  that  4005  ewes  were  re- 
served for  breeders,  of  which  83.1  per  cent  were  productive,  the 
83.1  ewes  dropping  92  lambs,  including  twins.  In  the  author's 
experience  with  the  Rambouillet,  covering  ten  years,  the  ewes 
were  prolific  breeders,  frequently  dropping  twins,  and  were  un- 
usually good  mothers,  having  large  udders  and  producing  much 
milk.  One  objection  to  some  of  the  ewes  was  too  large  a  teat. 
The  udders  averaged  larger  than  with  any  other  breed  of  sheep 


THE  RAMBOUILLET 


373 


in   the   personal   acquaintance   of   the  author.     Owing  to  their 
natural  vigor  the  ewes  breed  to  a  ripe  old  age. 

The  hardy  quality  of  the  Rambouillet  is  worthy  of  note. 
Formerly,  when  the  French  Merino  was  introduced,  many  found 
it  unsuited  to  American  conditions.  The  last  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury, however,  has  shown  that  the  Rambouillet  has  excellent 
wearing  qualities,  certainly  surpassing  the  mutton  breeds.  In 
winter  the  writer  has  found  them  comparatively  free  from 
catarrh,  while  in  summer  on  the  same  pasture  with  sheep  badly 
suffering  with  stomach  worms  the  Rambouillet  seemed  com- 
paratively free  from  the 
serious  effects  of  the 
parasite. 

The  early  maturity  of 
the  Rambouillet  from  the 
standpoint  of  Merino  de- 
velopment is  distinctly  in 
its  favor.  The  lambs  come 
on  rapidly  and  compare 
favorably  with  the  mutton 
breeds. 

The  distribution  of  the 
Rambouillet  is  very  wide- 
spread. It  is  extensively 
bred  in  France,  Germany, 
Russia,  and  other  coun- 
tries of  continental  Europe 
and  has  been  exported  heavily  to  Australia,  Argentine  Repub- 
lic, and  the  United  States.  In  South  America  there  are  large 
flocks  of  choice  breeding.  In  the  United  States  this  Merino  is 
extensively  distributed  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  but  is 
found  in  pure-bred  flocks  to  a  notable  degree  in  Ohio,  Michigan, 
Oregon,  Washington,  California,  and  Utah,  though  excellent  flocks 
occur  in  other  states. 

Organizations  to  promote  Rambouillet  sheep  were  first  estab- 
lished when  the  American  Rambouillet  Sheep  Breeders'  Asso- 
ciation was  organized  in  1889  at  Pontiac,  Michigan.  Volume  I 
of  the  flock  book  was  published  in   1891,  and  up  to  1905  seven 


Fig.  167.  A  Rambouillet  ewe,  second  in  class 
at  the  Ohio  State  Fair,  1905.  Bred  and 
exhibited  by  Max  Chapman.  Photograph 
by  the  author 


74 


SHEEP 


volumes  have  been  issued.  In  190 1  the  Von  Homeyer  Associa- 
tion of  Rambouillet  Sheep  was  organized,  this  registering  only 
sheep  of  breeding  tracing  to  the  Von  Homeyer  flock.  This 
association  has  issued  one  small  flock  book.  There  is  also  a 
Franco- American  Merino  Association,  organized  in  1900,  in  which 
blood  lines  combine  the  Rambouillet  and  American  Merino. 

Prices  of  interest  for  Rambouillet  sheep  date  back  for  over 
half  a  century.  In  1853  John  D.  Patterson  of  New  York  pur- 
chased a  ram  in  France  for  $600,  from  the  flock  of  M.  Cugnot. 
He  also  paid  Victor  Gilbert  $400  each  for  two  rams.  In  the  late 
fifties,  when  Mr.  Patterson  sold  his  sheep  to  California  buyers, 
it  is  reported  that  he  received  $1500  each  for  three  rams,  $1000 
for  one,  $800  apiece  for  two,  and  for  eighteen  others,  prices 
ranging  from  $300  to  $700.  Fourteen  ewes  also  brought  $4500, 
or  an  average  of  $321  per  head.  These  probably  represent  the 
highest  prices  brought  by  individuals  of  this  breed,  either  in 
America  or  Europe.  A.  L.  Bingham  of  Vermont,  between  1847 
and  1853,  paid  John  A.  Taintor  $37,500  for  161  French  Merinos, 
or  about  $232  a  head.  The  more  modern  Rambouillet  has  never 
brought  such  high  prices,  although  some  rams  in  recent  years 
have  sold  for  as  much  as  $300  each. 


CHAPTER  XLIX 

THE   MUTTON   TYPE   OF   SHEEP 

The  mutton  breeds  of  sheep  comprise  two  groups  known 
as  the  middle  or  medium  wool  and  the  long  wool.  While  the 
breeds  within  these  groups  materially  differ  in  character,  what  is 
known  as  the  mutton  type  or  form  is  essentially  the  same  with 
each  of  these  groups. 

The  general  mutton  conformation  embodies  the  feature  of  the 
best  beef  type,  involving  the  compact,  blocky  form,  the  short 
head  and  neck,  broad,  level  back,  full,  heavy  leg  of  mutton,  deep 
body,  and  short  legs. 

The  head  is  short,  the  mouth  of  ample  size,  nostrils  large,  nose 
short  and  strong  and  often  Roman  with  males,  the  eyes  bright 
and  prominent,  the  forehead  broad,  the  poll  neat,  and  the  ears 
refined,  short,  and  actively  carried,  indicating  quality.  Horns 
do  not  as  a  rule  prevail  in  this  type  and  are  not  a  necessary 
consideration. 

The  neck  should  be  full  and  smoothly  muscled,  of  fair  depth, 
level  and  short  on  top,  and  should  blend  in  neatly  at  head  and 
merge  nicely  at  the  shoulder  and  neck  vein. 

The  shoulder  is  valuable  for  mutton,  and  should  be  neatly 
placed  with  the  blades  not  prominent  at  the  top,  this  entire  part 
being  smoothly  covered  with  flesh. 

The  breast  on  a  superior  mutton  sheep  is  thick  in  front,  and 
the  brisket  is  prominent  and  well  rounded  out,  this  showing  a 
vigorous  constitution  and  strong  fleshing  qualities.  The  whole 
front  of  the  bosom  should  show  a  fullness  and  smoothness  in 
all  the  lines. 

The  chest  is  most  important,  containing  as  it  does  the  vital 
organs,  so  that  both  thickness  and  depth  are  essential  and  in 
keeping  with  the  properly  developed  breast.  The  withers  on  top 
must  have  width  and  be  smoothly  covered,  and  then  further  down 

375 


3?6 


SHEEP 


well-rounded  crops  and  full  front  flanks  are  to  be  looked  for. 
Sunken  crops  and  high  front  flanks  indicate  lack  of  constitution 
and  poor  feeding  character. 

The  front  legs  should  be  wide  and  heavily  muscled  of  arm,  the 
shank  bones  fine  and  short,  the  joints  and  pasterns  strong.  The 
entire  leg  viewed  from  front  or  side  must  show  good  form  and 
strength,  the  knees  not  coming  close  together,  and  the  feet  prop- 
erly pointing  straight  ahead.  Weak  pasterns  frequently  occur  with 
mutton  sheep,  a  feature  to  be  avoided  in  selecting  breeding  rams. 

The  back  and  loin  contain  the  valuable  cuts,  so  that  strength, 
width,  and  thickness  are  highly  essential  at  all  times.  Breadth  and 
levelness  of  back  are  emphasized,  with  some  closeness  of  coupling. 


Fig.  168.  First-prize  pen  of  Southdown  yearling  wethers  at  Royal  Agricultural 
Society  of  "England  Show,  1903.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  C.  Adeane, 
Cambridge.  This  picture  shows  the  mutton  form  in  its  highest  perfec- 
tion.   Photograph  from  F.  N.  Webb,  Agent,  Cambridge,  England 

The  body  to  have  ample  capacity  requires  a  strong  arch  and 
depth  of  rib,  thus  giving  depth  and  thickness,  invariably  asso- 
ciated with  the  best  type.  A  short  body,  at  least  with  the  male 
or  feeder,  is  much  preferred  to  a  long  one. 

The  hips  should  be  inconspicuous,  though  not  narrow,  and 
should  be  smoothly  covered. 

The  rump  requires  length,  breadth,  and  levelness,  with  a  full 
covering  of  flesh.  Instead  of  this  we  too  frequently  find  the 
peaked,  narrow,  droopy  rump  with  low-set  tail,  an  ill  form  either 
for  meat  production  or  in  relation  to  the  proper  conformation  in 
connection  with  the  reproductive  function. 

The  thighs  should  be  thick  from  behind,  very  full  and  low  in 
between  at  the  twist,  and,  as  viewed  from  one  side,  very  wide  and 


THE  MUTTON  TYPE  OF  SHEEP         377 

carried  strongly  back.  The  entire  upper  thigh  should  be  heavily 
covered  with  flesh.  The  lower  thigh,  above  the  hock,  must  show 
strength  and  neatness. 

The  hocks  should  be  straight  and  strong  with  ample  space 
between.  If  the  hocks  take  a  correct  position,  then  the  legs  will 
probably  do  likewise.  Crooked  hocks,  however,  are  a  common  and 
weak  formation  and  are  to  be  guarded  against  in  breeding  stock. 
The  legs  below  the  hocks  should  be  straight,  short,  and  strong. 

The  skin  is  a  quite  variable  feature  on  mutton  sheep.  A 
bright  pink  is  the  ideal  color,  with  the  skin  mellow  and  yet  firm, 
this  showing  the  most  healthy  condition.  Instead  of  this  the 
skin  is  frequently  of  a  bluish-white  cast  or  appears  too  white. 
A  somewhat  mottled  or  bluish-white  color  also  occurs  with  some 
individuals  or  breeds.  There  are  differences  of  views  as  to  the 
significance  of  skin  color.  No  doubt  the  bluish  tint  of  the 
Shropshire  or  Oxford  skin  is  one  of  inheritance  and  does  not 
necessarily  signify  poor  condition.  The  clear  pink  skin,  however, 
is  preferable. 

The  fleshing  of  the  mutton  type  calls  for  a  smooth,  uniformly 
covered,  deep  layer  of  high-class  mutton  without  wads  of  fat  or 
patchiness  on  sides  or  rump.  Such  a  sheep  with  the  fleece 
removed  would  be  beautiful  in  the  general  symmetry  of  outline, 
whether  in  moderate  flesh  or  fed  for  slaughter. 

The  wool  of  the  mutton  type  ranges  in  length  from  that  of  the 
Merino  to  some  ten  or  possibly  more  inches  for  a  year's  growth. 
The  fleece  does  not  cover  the  body  so  compactly  as  with  the  fine 
wool,  but  in  this  respect,  that  of  the  medium  class  greatly 
excels  the  long  wool  which  is  the  most  open  of  all.  The  fibers 
range  in  character  from  those  which  are  fine  and  have  con- 
siderable crimp  to  those  which  are  long  and  wavy,  with  little 
or  no  real  crimp.  A  bright  fiber  with  brilliant  luster  is  sought 
for.  Uniformity  of  covering  is  important  in  length,  fineness, 
and  diameter  of  staple.  The  entire  body,  including  the  belly 
and  armpits,  should  be  covered  with  a  compact  fleece.  The 
covering  on  head  or  legs  varies  with  the  breed.  Hair  (kemp)  or 
abnormal  color  of  wool  fiber  are  distinctly  objectionable.  The  oil 
or  yolk  should  be  of  moderate  abundance,  keeping  the  wool  in  a 
healthy  condition. 


CHAPTER  L 

THE   SOUTHDOWN 

The  native  home  of  the  Southdown  breed  is  in  southeastern 
England  in  the  county  of  Sussex,  which  is  bordered  on  the  south 
by  the  English  Channel.  Extending  east  and  west  through  this 
region  is  a  range  of  low  chalky  hills  about  sixty  miles  long  and 
from  one  to  six  or  eight  miles  wide,  known  as  the  South  Downs. 
These  hills,  which  also  occur  in  Kent,  Hampshire,  and  Dorset, 
grow  a  short,  fine  herbage,  while  wheat  is  a  leading  cereal  crop, 
though  roots  do  well  under  suitable  conditions  on  the  lower-lying 
lands.    The  climate  is  mild  and  balmy,  being  tempered  by  the  sea. 

The  original  stock  from  which  the  Southdown  sprung,  the 
native  Sussex  sheep,  was  somewhat  small,  had  dark  face  and 
legs,  occasionally  small  horns,  was  long  and  thin  in  the  neck, 
light  in  the  fore  quarter  with  narrow,  droopy  back,  the  body  lack- 
ing rib,  and  the  hind  quarter  having  a  thick  leg  of  mutton  with 
the  bone  generally  too  coarse.  The  wool  also  was  short  and  the 
fleece  thin. 

The  important  early  improvers  of  the  Southdown  were  John 
Ellman  and  Jonas  Webb.  Other  men  assisted  in  the  improve- 
ment of  the  breed,  but  these  two  stand  out  in  bold  relief  among 
the  great  improvers  of  sheep. 

John  Ellman  lived  at  Glynde  near  Lewes,  Sussex  County, 
England.  He  was  the  first  improver  of  Southdown  sheep.  He 
began  his  work  about  1775,  and  resided  on  the  same  farm  and 
bred  Southdowns  continuously  for  over  fifty  years.  Ellman  saw 
the  necessity  of  improving  the  native  Sussex  sheep,  to  secure  a 
stronger  constitution,  a  better  mutton  form,  and  ease  of  fattening, 
with  a  smaller  per  cent  of  offal  in  killing.  He  sought  the  best 
sheep  wherever  obtainable  and  made  rapid  improvement  of  the 
breed.  A  son  of  Mr.  Ellman,  also  a  prominent  breeder  in  his 
day,  especially  credited  his  father  with  improvements  made  in 

378 


THE  SOUTHDOWN 


379 


the  Southdown  neck  and  fore  quarters.  Ellman  very  generally 
improved  the  sheep,  creating  a  superior  mutton  beast,  and  also 
greatly  adding  to  the  thickness  and  quality  of  the  fleece.  He 
demonstrated  that  the  breed  could  be  heavily  stocked  on  the 
land.  In  1788  Arthur  Young  wrote,  "Mr.  Ellman,  on  500 
acres,  has  700  ewes,  lambs,  and  wethers  in  winter,  and  1450  of 
all  sorts  in  summer,  besides  140  head  of  cattle."  Ellman  is 
universally  regarded  as  the  greatest  of  early  sheep  improvers, 


Fig.  169.  Babraham  Champion,  first-prize  and  reserve-champion  Southdown 
ram  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show  in  1901.  Also 
won  the  Blythwood  Challenge  Bowl  for  the  best  Southdown  of  either  sex 
at  the  Oxfordshire  Show.  Bred  and  owned  by  C.  Adeane,  Babraham, 
Cambridge,  England,  and  used  in  the  famous  Babraham  flock  in  1901  and 
1902.    Photograph  from  F.  N.  Webb,  Agent,  Cambridge,  England 


unless  we  except  Bakewell.  In  1829  he  retired  and  dispersed 
his  flock  of  about  1400  head,  of  which  241  were  wether  lambs. 
Mr.  Ellman  died  in  1832. 

Jonas  Webb  of  Babraham,  Cambridge,  England,  built  on  the 
Southdown  model  of  Ellman.  He  began  breeding  about  1821 
and  purchased  the  best  sheep  he  could  buy,  regardless  of  price. 
These  he  mated  with  much  wisdom,  improving  the  Southdown 
into  the  very  best-known  type  of  mutton  sheep,  —  symmetrical, 


38o 


SHEEP 


an  easy  feeder,  and  unsurpassed  in  quality  of  flesh  and  dressing  out 
at  killing.  Southdowns  of  his  breeding  possessed  more  size  than 
did  those  of  Ellman.  He  began  letting  out  rams  in  1823,  and 
about  1846  was  placing  out  200  annually.  For  years  his  ram 
sales  and  letting  out  sales  were  important  events.  He  was  a  most 
successful  exhibitor,  and  in  1856  won  a  special  gold  medal  for 
his  Southdown  exhibit  at  the  International  Exposition  at  Paris, 
France.  The  Webb  flock  was  dispersed  in  1862,  but  Mr.  C. 
Adeane,  who  now  occupies  Babraham,  is  one  of  England's  best- 
known  breeders  and  exhibitors  of  Southdowns. 

The  breeding  of  the  Southdown  by  the  English  nobility  has 
long  been  noteworthy.    In  the  time  of  Ellman,  George  the  Third 


i  ' 


I  KM 


Fig.  170.  Chichester  King  65,  17434.  first-prize  and  champion  Southdown 
ram  in  1904  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  and  at  various 
state  fairs.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  George  McKerrow  of  Wisconsin. 
Photograph  by  the  author 


became  interested  in  this  breed,  which  ever  since  has  been  main- 
tained on  the  royal  estates.  The  present  king,  Edward  VII, 
has  for  years  had  a  fine  flock.  Lord  Walsingham  has  long 
been  a  prominent  breeder,  while  the  estate  of  the  Duke  of 
Richmond  has  for  over  a  century  bred  Southdowns  ;    so  also 


THE  SOUTHDOWN 


381 


have  the  Duke  of  Hamilton,   Duke  of  Marlborough,  Viscount 
Hampden,  and  numerous  others. 

The  introduction  of  the  Southdown  to  America  without  doubt 
dates  back  to  colonial  days,  and  it  has  been  assumed  that  the 
best  sheep  of  Rhode  Island  and  eastern  Connecticut  were  of 
this  breed.  In  1803  a  Dr.  Rose  of  Fayette,  Seneca  County, 
New  York,  is  said  to  have  commenced  with  a  small  flock  of 
Southdowns  which  did 
remarkably  well.  In  1 8 1 3 
these  were  crossed  with 
Spanish  Merinos.  In  1823 
Sidney  Hawes  of  New 
York  imported  some 
Southdowns,  and  sold 
thirty-six  ewes,  two  rams, 
and  ten  wethers  to  C.  N. 
Bement  of  Albany,  who 
kept  up  his  flock  many 
years.  In  1834  Francis 
Rotch  of  Otsego  County, 
New  York,  imported  six 
ewes  and  a  ram  from  the 
flock  of  T.  Ellman,  the  son 
of  John.  Following  this 
he  made  several  other  importations  from  the  most  noted  English 
flocks.  In  1834  Isaac  Maynard  of  Coshocton  County  brought 
some  Southdowns  to  Ohio,  while  in  1844  J.  F.  King  of  Warren 
began  breeding  from  Jonas  Webb  stock,  imported  by  J.  M.  Hesless 
of  Trumbull  County,  Ohio.  With  the  depreciation  in  Merino  inter- 
ests Southdowns  grew  in  favor  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  many 
flocks  were  established  along  in  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Southdown  as  described  by  Ellman 
merit  reproduction  here  on  account  of  their  source  and  their 
considerable  application  to  the  breed  to-day. 

The  head  small  and  hornless ;  the  face  speckled  or  gray,  and  neither  too 
long  nor  too  short  ;  the  lips  thin,  and  the  space  between  the  nose  and  eyes 
narrow  ;  the  under  jaw  or  chap  fine  and  thin ;  the  ears  tolerably  wide  and 
well  covered  with  wool,  and  the  forehead  also,  and  the  whole  space  between 


Fig.  171.  CulfordEwe  18530,  grand-champion 
Southdown  ewe  at  the  Louisana  Purchase 
Exposition,  1904.  Owned  and  exhibited  by 
W.  A.  McKerrow,  Wisconsin.  Photograph 
by  the  author 


382  SHEEP 

the  ears  well  protected  by  it,  as  a  defense  against  the  fly.  The  eye  full  and 
bright  but  not  prominent ;  the  orbit  of  the  eye,  the  eye  cap  or  bone,  not 
too  projecting,  that  it  may  not  form  a  fatal  obstacle  in  lambing. 

The  neck  of  a  medium  length,  thin  toward  the  head,  but  enlarging  toward 
the  shoulders,  where  it  should  be  broad  and  high,  and  straight  in  its  whole 
course  above  and  below.  The  breast  should  be  wide,  deep,  and  projecting 
forward  between  the  fore  legs,  indicating  a  good  constitution  and  a  disposi- 
tion to  thrive.  Corresponding  with  this,  the  shoulders  should  be  on  a  level 
with  the  back  and  not  too  wide  above  ;  they  should  bow  outward  from  the 
top  to  the  breast,  indicating  a  springing  rib  beneath,  and  leaving  room  for 
it.  The  ribs  coming  out  horizontally  from  the  spine  and  extending  back- 
ward, and  the  last  rib  projecting  more  than  others,  the  back  flat  from  the 
shoulders  to  the  setting  on  of  the  tail;  the  loin  broad  and  flat;  the  rump 
broad  and  the  tail  set  on  high  and  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  spine:  The 
hips  wide,  the  space  between  them  and  the  last  rib  on  either  side  as  narrow 
as  possible,  and  the  ribs  generally  presenting  a  circular  form  like  a  barrel. 
The  belly  as  straight  as  the  back. 

The  legs  neither  too  long  nor  too  short  ;  the  fore  legs  straight  from  the 
breast  to  the  foot,  not  bending  inward  at  the  knee,  and  standing  far  apart 
both  before  and  behind  ;  the  hock  having  a  direction  rather  outward,  and 
the  twist,  or  the  meeting  of  the  thighs  behind,  being  particularly  full,  the 
bones  fine,  yet  having  no  appearance  of  weakness,  and  of  a  speckled  or 
dark  color. 

The  belly  well  defended  with  wool  and  the  wool  coining  down  before  and 
behind  to  the  knee  and  hock  ;  the  wool  short,  close,  curled,  and  fine,  and 
free  from  spiry  projecting  fibers. 

All  of  the  above  essentially  applies  to  the  modern  Southdown 
type  excepting  color.  This  is  to-day  of  a  rather  grayish  brown 
or  reddish  brown  as  shown  on  face,  ear,  and  leg  —  of  a  much 
lighter  shade  than  the  Shropshire.  The  fleece  has  also  undoubt- 
edly been  improved  in  its  density,  length,  and  quality  over  what 
it  was  in  Ellman's  time.  The  breed  is  noted  for  its  quiet,  docile 
temperament. 

The  size  of  the  Southdown  is  inferior,  ranking  as  essentially 
the  smallest  of  the  middle-wool  class.  Yet  the  compactness  of 
the  breed  is  so  distinct  that  the  individuals  weigh  very  heavy  for 
their  size.  The  mature  rams  will  average  about  175  pounds 
and  the  ewes  135.  George  McKerrow  of  Wisconsin,  a  leading 
Southdown  breeder  and  importer,  reports  the  following  average 
weights  of  specimens  of  the  breed,  weighed  about  September  1, 
1889  :  Two  two-year-old  rams,  206  pounds  each  ;  three  yearling 
rams,  153A-  pounds  each ;  two  aged  ewes,  150  pounds  each  ;  four 


THE  SOUTHDOWN  383 

yearling  ewes,  134^  pounds  each;  March  lambs,  ioi£  pounds 
each.  The  heaviest  yearling  weighed  161  pounds  and  the 
heaviest  lamb  no  pounds.  These  weights  however  are  much 
above  the  usual. 

The  Southdown  for  mutton,  since  its  early  improvement,  has 
held  premier  place  in  the  best  markets.  There  is  no  excessive 
fat  on  the  average  fed  carcass,  the  flesh  is  of  the  finest  flavor 
and  grain,  the  offal  is  comparatively  small,  and  the  bone  is  fine. 

The  Southdown  as  a  feeder  is  superior,  maturing  rapidly  and 
making  a  large  gain  for  food  consumed.  In  feeding  experiments 
at  the  Iowa  experiment  station  Southdown  wether  lambs  in  one 


Fig.  172.  A  pen  of  three  Southdown  ewe  lambs,  first  prize  in  class  at  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show,  1901.  Bred  and  exhibited 
by  C.  Adeane,  Babraham,  Cambridge,  England.  Photograph  from  F.  N. 
Webb,  Agent,  Cambridge 

trial  gained  a  daily  average  of  .45  pound,  and  in  a  second  .35 
pound,  it  requiring  738  pounds  dry  matter  for  100  pounds  gain 
in  the  first  trial  and  989  pounds  in  the  second.  In  percentage  of 
dressed  carcass  the  lambs  in  the  first  trial  dressed  5  5 .4  per  cent, 
and  in  the  second  5  5 .26  per  cent,  averaging  higher  than  any 
other  of  10  breeds,  while  the  carcass  also  brought  in  each  trial 
the  highest  price  per  100  pounds.  At  the  Ontario  Agricultural 
College  the  average  weight  of  the  best  fat  shorn  Southdown 
grade  wethers  at  445  days  was  185  pounds,  the  mean  weight  of 
all  the  Southdown  wethers  167  pounds,  while  the  daily  gain  per 
head  was  .33  pound.  Wallace  reports  that  fat  wethers  rising 
two  years  old,  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  Bathurst  and  sold  in 


3§4 


SHEEP 


Cirencester  market  in  the  first  week  in  December,  1884,  dressed 
138  pounds  per  carcass,  or  34.5  pounds  per  quarter  dead  weight, 
and  yielded  65.83  per  cent  dressed  weight.  In  1899,  at  the 
Smithfield  Club  Show,  the  heaviest  pen  of  Southdown  wether 
lambs  averaged  161  pounds  each. 

The  Southdown  cross-bred  or  grade  has  long  met  with  great 
favor  in  the  mutton  market.  In  fact  the  Southdown  has  played 
a  leading  part  in  forming  several  breeds,  notably  the  Shropshire, 
Hampshire,  and  Oxford,  though  it  has  been  used  more  or  less  on 
other  breeds  to  improve  the  fleshing  and  maturing  qualities. 
Grade  lambs,  the  result  of  Southdown  rams  on  common  ewes 
of  the  Merino  type  or  of  middle-wool  form,  will  always  be  in 
comparatively  high  demand  by  butchers. 

The  adaptability  of  the  Southdown  to  a  variety  of  conditions 
is  very  fair.  On  rolling  land,  and  even  on  hilly  land  producing 
plenty  of  pasture,  they  do  well.  On  the  slightly  rolling,  well- 
drained  lands  of  the  central  West  they  seem  to  thrive,  while  in 
the  South  this  has  been  one  of  the  best-known  breeds.  They 
graze  well  and  are  equally  hardy  with  most  middle-wool  sheep. 

The  breeding  qualities  of  the  Southdown  are  about  average. 
In  1856  Professor  Wilson  of  Scotland  wrote,  "The  ewes  are 
very  prolific  and  are  excellent  mothers,  commonly  rearing  120 
or  130  lambs  to  the  100  ewes."  In  recent  years,  as  compared 
with  the  Shropshire,  the  breed  cannot  be  regarded  as  superior  in 
fecundity.  The  ewes,  however,  make  good  mothers  and  have  a 
fair  flow  of  milk. 

The  Southdown  as  a  wool  sheep  occupies  a  subordinate  place. 
The  fleece  is  short,  averaging  perhaps  two  and  one  half  inches 
long,  and,  although  the  finest  of  the  native  British  breeds,  weighs 
light,  an  average  yield  for  a  flock  being  less  than  for  any  other 
common  breed.  Wallace  gives  the  weight  of  fleece  of  a  ewe 
from  three  to  four  pounds,  and  Shaw  from  five  to  seven.  In 
1 89 1  General  C.  M.  Clay,  who  bred  Southdowns  on  a  large 
scale  in  Kentucky  for  over  fifty  consecutive  years,  wrote  that  he 
had  "  raised  wool  from  three  and  one  half  pounds  to  seven  on  an 
average."  While  the  fleece  is  usually  very  fine,  its  short  length, 
freedom  from  yolk,  and  small  size  of  sheep  combine  to  produce 
a  fleece  not  weighing  much  over  five  or  six  pounds. 


THE  SOUTHDOWN 


385 


The  principal  criticism  of  the  Southdown  on  the  part  of  the 
American  farmer  is  the  lack  of  wool  production  as  well  as  insuf- 
ficient size,  though  the  size  is  not  a  serious  objection.  Wallace, 
a  leading  Scotch  authority  of  to-day,  says,  "  They  are  not  good 
rent  payers,  except  in  their  native  district,  being  too  small  and 
also  liable  to  foot  rot."  Notwithstanding  the  intrinsic  merit  and 
value  of  this  breed,  until  it  presents  more  scale  and  fleece  it 
will  not  succeed  in  meeting  equal  favor  in  America  with  the 
Shropshire,  Oxford,  or  Hampshire. 

The  distribution  of  the  Southdown  is  world-wide.  It  has  been 
exported  from  England  into  almost   every  country  of  Europe, 


Fig.  173.  A  pen  of  three  Southdown  wether  lambs,  winners  of  first  prize  at  the 
Smithfield  Show,  London,  1 903.  At  1  o  months  of  age  these  lambs  averaged 
154I  pounds  each.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  C.  Adeane,  Babraham,  Cam- 
bridge, England.    Photograph  from  F.  N.  Webb,  Agent,  Cambridge 

Africa,  Australia,  and  America  where  civilization  and  sheep 
husbandry  at  all  prevail.  Even  as  late  as  1903  exports  were 
made  to  the  United  States,  France,  Russia,  Australia,  Argentine 
Republic,  Chile,  and  Japan.  Perhaps  no  breed  of  sheep  during 
its  career  has  had  an  equally  wide  distribution.  In  the  United 
States  Southdowns  are  recorded  as  bred  in  nearly  fifty  states, 
important  flocks  being  kept  in  Ohio,  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Vermont,  and  Kentucky.  The  breed  is  also 
well  represented  in  Canada,  notably  in  Ontario. 

Organizations  to  promote  Southdown  sheep  exist  in  England 
and  America.  The  Southdown  Sheep  Society,  with  headquarters 
in  London,  England,  published  its  first  flock  book  in  1893,  and 


386  SHEEP 

up  to  1905  has  issued  fourteen  volumes.  The  American  South- 
down Breeders'  Association,  organized  in  1882,  has  published 
nine  flock  books  and  registered  some  15,000  sheep. 

Notable  prices  for  Southdown  sheep  have  been  paid  since  the 
days  of  Ellman,  though  the  figures  are  not  as  large  as  those 
derived  from  Lincoln  or  Merino  sales.  In  1787  the  first  South- 
down ram  to  bring  ten  guineas  ($50)  was  sold  by  Ellman  to  Lord 
Waldergrave.  In  1794  the  Earl  of  Egremont  gave  Ellman  about 
$10  each  for  50  ewes.  In  1796  this  same  breeder  sold  a  ram 
for  50  guineas,  or  $250.  Later  the  Emperor  of  Russia  and  the 
Duke  of  Bedford  each  took  two  of  Mr.   Ellman's  rams  at  150 


Fig.  174.    A  group  of  Southdown  ewes  in  pasture,  owned  by  C.  J.  Stuckey, 
Mechanicsburg,  Ohio.    Photograph  by  the  author 

guineas  ($750)  per  head.  In  1829,  when  the  Ellman  flock  was 
dispersed,  36  rams  averaged  about  $125  each.  At  the  dispersal 
sales  of  Jonas  Webb  in  1861  and  1862  there  were  sold  1404 
sheep  at  an  average  of  £1 1  ijs.  $d.}  almost  $58  each,  the  highest 
price  being  for  a  ram,  260  guineas,  or  $1300.  At  the  sales  of 
Henry  Webb  in  Cambridgeshire  in  1889  and  1900,  745  rams  and 
ewes  averaged  about  $60  each,  the  top  price  being  210  guineas. 
In  earlier  days  higher  prices  ruled  for  Southdowns  in  America 
than  now.  In  1856,  at  the  sale  of  L.  J.  Morris,  at  Fordham, 
New  York,  the  ewes  averaged  $150,  and  one  imported  ram 
brought  $400.  The  ram  Archbishop,  bred  by  Jonas  Webb,  was 
imported  by  G.  H.  Brown  and  cost  $1250. 


CHAPTER  LI 


THE    SHROPSHIRE] 


The  native  home  of  Shropshire  sheep  was  in  the  counties  of 
Shropshire  and  Stafford,  England.  The  former  is  in  central- 
western  England,  being  bounded  on  the  west  by  Wales,  while 
Stafford  lies  just  to  the  east  of  Shropshire.  The  country  is 
pleasantly  rolling,  with  some  hilly  features  also,  but  furnishes 
excellent  grass  and  pasture.  The  climate  is  moderate,  is  fairly 
free  from  heavy  snow  in  winter,  and  is  well  suited  to  sheep. 

The  origin  of  the  Shrop- 
shire sheep  is  from  several 
types  of  native  sheep,  on 
which  Southdown,  Leices- 
ter, and  Cotswold  blood 
was  used.  In  1803  Plym- 
ley,  writing  on  the  agri- 
culture of  Shropshire, 
wrote  of  a  breed  on  the 
Longmynd  with  horns  and 
black  faces,  that  seemed 
indigenous  and  hardy.  A 
century  ago  in  southern 
Shropshire,  near  Bridgnorth,  on  Morfe  Common,  as  many  as 
10,000  sheep  were  pastured  in  summer.  .It  was  a  native  breed, 
black  faced,  brown,  or  spotted  faced,  with  horns,  the  ewes 
dressed  weighing  from  nine  to  ten  pounds  per  quarter,  and 
wethers  eleven  to  fourteen  pounds  after  feeding,  and  clipping 
a  fleece  of  about  two  pounds.  On  Cannock  Chase  in  Stafford- 
shire was  found  a  similar  but  somewhat  larger,  slow-maturing 
sheep,  from  which  are  descended  some  of  the  best  Shropshire 
flocks  of  to-day.  On  Whittington  Heath  in  Shropshire  a  type 
similar   to    that    of    Cannock   Chase  also   existed    and   became 

387 


Fig.  175.  A  type  of  Shropshire  ram  of  years 
ago.  This  illustration  is  reproduced  from  a 
photograph  of  a  painting  owned  in  England 


388  SHEEP 

amalgamated  in  the  general  improvement.  The  Southdown  was 
used  on  these  to  secure  quality,  while  the  Leicester  and  Cotswold 
blood  were  used  to  obtain  size  and  fleece,  and  from  this  combina- 
tion came  the  modern  Shropshire,  after  a  considerable  process  of 
selection.  The  breed  is  comparatively  recent  in  its  present  char- 
acter, though  Alfred  Mansell  says  the  best  characteristics  of  the 
breed  were  present  when  the  work  of  improvement  was  begun. 
As  late  as  1858  Professor  Tanner  wrote  : 

Only  a  few  years  since  any  mention  of  the  Shropshire  Down  sheep 
raised  an  inquiry,  even  among  intellectual  agriculturists,  as  to  their  charac- 
ter, and  few,  comparatively  speaking,  knew  anything  of  them. 

Two  early  prominent  improvers  of  the  Shropshire  are  said  to 
have  been  Samuel  Meire  of  Berrington  and  later  of  Harley, 
near  Shrewsbury,  and  George  Adney,  of  Harley.  Meire  sought 
to  remove  the  Shropshire  coarseness  and  horns,  and  to  improve 
the  levelness  of  back  and  spring  of  rib,  the  obliqueness  of 
shoulder,  and  breadth  and  fullness  of  rump.  He  purchased  or 
hired  Southdown  rams  from  John  Ellman  of  Glynde  and  used 
them  in  his  flock.  He  also  used  Leicester  blood  with  the  pur- 
pose of  getting  better  feeders  and  animals  of  shorter  body. 
After  securing  his  type  he  practiced  the  selection  necessary  to 
bring  important  improvement.  Adney  did  not  cross  extensively, 
but  a  ram  named  Buckskin,  used  in  his  flock,  with  Southdown 
blood  in  his  veins,  produced  superior  sheep,  one  of  which,  the 
ewe  Old  Patentee,  was  a  famous  dam  and  prize  winner  whose 
blood  is  prominent  in  the  best  early  Shropshire  pedigrees. 
Many  of  the  best  flocks  of  to-day  trace  to  those  of  Meire 
and  Adney.  Other  prominent  breeders  and  improvers  were 
G.  M.  Kettle  of  Dallicott,  Henry  Smith  of  Shifnal,  Green  of 
Marlow,  Horton  of  Shrewsbury,  and  Farmer  of  Bridgnorth. 

Shropshires  were  first  exhibited  at  the  Royal  Show  in  Eng- 
land in  1853,  and  in  a  few  years  it  was  the  most  prominent 
breed  shown,  875  head  being  exhibited  at  the  Shrewsbury  Royal 
in  1884,  compared  with  420  representing  all  other  breeds. 

The  introduction  of  the  Shropshire  to  America  is  comparatively 
recent.  In  i860  Samuel  Sutton  of  Relay  House,  Maryland, 
imported  20  ewes  and  a  ram,  which   the  American  Farmer  for 


THE  SHROPSHIRE  389 

August,  1 86 1,  states  was  the  first  flock  of  Shropshires  imported 
to  America.  A.  B.  Conger  of  Haverstraw,  New  York,  had  a 
flock  about  the  same  time,  and  sold  the  first  of  the  breed  to  go 
into  New  Hampshire,  to  P.  W.  Jones  of  Amherst,  in  1864. 
Shropshires  were  exhibited  at  the  New  York  State  Fair  at 
Elmira  in  1861,  including  the  ram  Gratitude  that  had  been  shown 
the  year  previous  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  Show  at 
Canterbury,  England.  In  1862  P.  Lorillard  of  Fordham,  New 
York,  also  had  a  flock,  and  in  1868  L.  C.  Fish  of  Otego,  New 
York,  began  breeding  them.  About  1875  the  first  Shropshires 
were  brought  from  Canada  to  Michigan  by  Mrs.  Ann  Newton  of 
Pontiac.    In  1880  this  breed  was  advertised  by  J.  A.  Brown  & 


Fig.  176.  First-prize  pen  of  Shropshire  yearling  rams  at  the  Royal  Agricul- 
tural Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  Sir  R.  P. 
Cooper,  Bart.,  Shenstone,  England.  Photograph  from  William  Cooper  & 
Nephews,  Berkhamsted,  England 

Son  of  Decatur,  Illinois.  Along  in  the  eighties  numerous  impor- 
tations were  made  into  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Michigan,  and  the 
breed  became  well  distributed. 

Characteristics  of  the  Shropshire.  This  breed  is  of  the  medium- 
wool  class  and  is  somewhat  heavier  and  larger  than  the  South- 
down. The  face,  ears,  and  legs  are  usually  a  dark  brown  or 
blackish  brown,  although  fifteen  years  ago  they  were  often  gray- 
ish brown  of  face.  The  head  is  hornless  and  is  slightly  larger 
than  the  Southdown,  and  in  the  best  specimens  is  covered  with 
a  striking  cap  of  wool  even  to  the  nostrils,  covering  all  but  a 
small  part  of  the  nose.  The  ears  should  be  small,  short,  and 
moderately  broad,  and  should  be  well  covered  with  short,  fine 
wool.    While  the  Shropshire  is  an  excellent  backed  breed,  it  also 


39Q 


SHEEP 


carries  such  a  depth  of  body  as  to  usually  appear  fairly  short  of 
leg.  A  prominent  feature  of  good  specimens  is  a  full  bosom  and 
strong  brisket.  The  rump  sometimes  lacks  levelness  and  fullness, 
though  the  thigh  and  twist  may  be  excellent.  The  fleece  covers 
the  entire  body  admirably,  being  compact  and  fairly  long  and  of 
superior  quality.  In  temperament  Shropshires  are  of  the  first 
class,  being  easily  handled.  The  skin  of  representatives  of  this 
breed  is  very  commonly  bluish  pink  and  lacks  the  superior  quality 
and  color  of  either  the  Merino  or  Cheviot. 

The  size  of  the  Shropshire  makes  it  about  an  average  among 
the  middle-wool  breeds.     A  standard  weight  for  mature  rams  is 

225  pounds,  with  150  to 
160  for  ewes.  A  few  years 
ago  one  large  importer  and 
breeder  advertised  that 
his  rams  would  average 
250  pounds  and  his  ewes 
175  pounds.  There  has 
been  a  tendency  in  this 
country  to  develop  a  large 
type  among  some  breeders 
and  a  smaller  type  among 
others,  the  latter  arguing 
in  behalf  of  quality  rather 
than  quantity. 

The  Shropshire  as  a  mutton  sheep  is  of  a  superior  order,  rank- 
ing next  to  the  Southdown,  and  when  well  fed  often  equaling  it. 
In  the  Iowa  station  breed  test  Shropshire  fattening  wethers  of  an 
average  age  of  371  days,  in  the  first  trial,  made  an  average  daily 
gain  of  .48  pound,  and  in  the  second  trial,  covering  279  days, 
gained  an  average  of  .36  pound  daily.  In  one  trial  it  required 
718  pounds  dry  matter  for  100  pounds  gain,  and  in  the  other  1026 
for  100  pounds  gain.  The  valuation  per  100  pounds  live  weight 
ranked  second  to  the  Southdowns,  viz.,  $4.63  and  $5.60  for  each 
trial.  In  feeding  experiments  on  Shropshire  lambs,  conducted  by 
Professor  Brown  at  the  Ontario  College,  grades  of  this  breed 
made  the  best  record  among  five  tested.  In  a  general  way  feed- 
ing experiments  with  Shropshires  have  shown  excellent  returns. 


Fig.  177.  Champion  Shropshire  ram  at  the 
Kentucky  State  Fair,  1903.  Exhibited  by 
the  Niagara  Stock  Farm,  Lewiston,  New 
York.    Photograph  by  the  author 


THE  SHROPSHIRE 


391 


Cross-bred  or  grade  Shropshires  are  to-day  one  of  the  most 
common  types  of  mutton  sheep  found  on  the  market.  Shrop- 
shire rams  used  on  native  ewes  furnish  lambs  of  a  much-desired 
class,  fattening  easily,  not  too  large,  and  profitable  killers.  In  the 
Mississippi  Valley  states  Shropshire  grades  are  the  common  sheep 
outside  of  Merino  communities.  A  Shropshire  ram-Merino  ewe 
cross  is  also  a  very  beneficial  one  from  a  mutton  point  of  view. 
Used  on  the  long-wool  grade  ewes,  a  smaller,  better  mutton 
sheep  results,  with  a  more  profitable  fleece.  Alex.  Bruce,  chief 
live-stock  inspector  for  New  South  Wales,  in  1894  wrote,  "For 
the  production  of  prime  fat  lambs  there  is  no  better  ram  (if 


--<-'  i ,               '  ^1 

wjm^ 

Yf^Ji&S 

]$££&,> 

*  W^^^W 

m& 

.^#'                     W 

ifi .  HBfak "  /«■ 

m ''   ' 

|jS 

':wlM 

Fig.  178.  The  first-prize  pen  of  Shropshire  yearling  ewes  at  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  Sir 
R.  P.  Cooper,  Bart.,  Shenstone,  England.  Photograph  from  William 
Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berkhamsted,  England 

there  be  as  good)  than  the  Shropshire,  and  the  result  is  equally 
favorable  where  that  ram  is  put  to  cross-bred  ewes." 

The  fecundity  of  Shropshire  sheep  is  notable.  The  ewes  of 
this  breed  have  long  been  noted  for  the  number  of  lambs  they 
will  produce.  A  ewe  owned  by  a  Mr.  Pochin  at  Leicester,  Eng- 
land, dropped  five  lambs  in  1882,  four  in  1883,  and  four  in 
1884.  A  writer  in  the  English  Agricultural  Gazette  in  1879 
reports  that  in  1877  he  had  125  ewes  suckle  194  lambs,  in  1878 
he  had  120  suckle  176,  and  in  1879  he  had  124  suckle  191. 
Mr.  Alfred  Mansell,  secretary  of  the  English  Shropshire  Society, 
states  that  150  to  175  lambs  per  100  is  the  usual  average,  that 
1 1,666  ewes  in  1896  reared  168  lambs  per  100  ewes.  In  a  study 
of    23,037   Shropshires   recorded  in   the   American    Shropshire 


392 


SHEEP 


Flock  Book  the  author  found  13,659,  or  59.2  per  cent,  of  single 
birth  ;  9053,  or  39.2  per  cent,  registered  as  twins;  and  315,  or  1.3 
per  cent,  as  triplets,  this  record  covering  the  years  1890  to  1899. 

The  Shropshire  as  a  grazing  sheep  ranks  but  fair.  It  is  espe- 
cially adapted  to  regions  where  the  pastures  are  superior,  but 
it  is  not  so  well  adapted  to  hilly  land  nor  to  sparse  pasturage  as 
the  Merino,  Southdown,  or  Cheviot.  It  is  distinctly  suited  to  the 
corn  belt  of  America,  where  it  is  most  abundant.  It  is  also  well 
suited  to  the  better  Canadian  pastures,  and  in  New  England 
satisfactory  results  have  been  secured. 

The  early  maturing  qualities  of  the  Shropshire  are  pronounced, 
ranking  in  the  first  class.  Lambs  at  four  months  old  will  easily 
weigh  40  pounds  and  at  twelve  months  old  weigh  over  100  pounds. 


*#**> 


Fig.  179.  The  champion  pen  of  Shropshire  yearling  ewes  at  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  England  Show,  1897.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  T.  Bowen- 
Jones,  Shrewsbury,  England.    Photograph  by  the  author 

Wallace  gives  20. to  22  pounds  per  quarter  the  dead  weight  at 
twelve  months  old.  The  early-maturing,  easy-fattening  character 
of  the  breed  or  its  cross  or  grade  is  what  makes  it  so  popular 
among  feeders.  Further,  for  years  dark-faced  mutton  has  been 
more  popular  in  the  market  than  the  white-faced. 

The  Shropshire  as  a  wool  producer  ranks  very  well.  The 
average  fleece  of  unwashed  wool  will  probably  not  much  exceed 
eight  pounds.  Wallace  places  7  or  8  pounds  a  good  average 
weight  for  the  fleece  of  an  ordinary  ewe  flock,  while  Professor 
Thomas  Shaw  gives  9  to  10  pounds  for  the  ewes  and  12  to  15 
pounds  for  the  rams  as  the  average  of  a  "good  flock."  The 
staple  of  the  Shropshire  is  rather  compact,  of  better  than  medium 
quality,  and  in  good  specimens  is  of  superior  fineness  and  crimp 
and  is  about  three  and  one  half  inches  long,  distinctly  longer 


THE  SHROPSHIRE 


393 


than  the  Southdown  but  shorter  than  Oxford  or  Hampshire. 
When  the  fleece  is  opened  it  frequently  shows  considerable  oil 
for  a  medium  wool,  and  has  a  most  attractive  fiber.  A  good 
specimen  of  Shropshire  should  be  well  covered  with  wool  about 
the  belly  and  down  the  legs  to  below  knee  and  hock. 

The  Shropshire's  rank  as  a  general-purpose  sheep  is  high,  which 
accounts  for  its  popularity.  The  combination  of  the  better-class 
mutton  and  wool,  with  ample  size  and  above  average  fecundity, 
has  met  the  demands  of  the  modern  farmer. 

The  vigor  of  the  Shropshire  is  criticised  by  some  as  not  being 
as  great  as  it  should  be,  if  compared  with  the  Merino,  being  more 
subject  to  colds  in  winter,  and  showing  less  resistance  to  the 
twisted  stomach  worm 
(Strongylus)  in  summer 
than  is  desirable. 

The  distribution  of  the 
Shropshire  is  to-day  world- 
wide, it  being  found  in 
most  of  the  counties  of 
England,  in  Scotland,  Ire- 
land, Russia,  France,  Ger- 
many, South  Africa,  South 
America,  Australia,  New 
Zealand,  Tasmania,  Ja- 
maica, the  Falkland 
Islands,  the  United  States,  and  Canada.  There  are  very  success- 
ful flocks  in  certain  mountain  districts,  as  in  Scotland  and  New 
England,  but  it  is  essentially  a  sheep  suited  to  gently  rolling 
lands,  preferably  north  rather  than  in  the  dry  south.  In  America 
fine  flocks  exist  in  Canada,  and  the  breed  is  well  represented  in 
the  states  generally,  but  especially  in  New  York,  Indiana,  Michi- 
gan, Wisconsin,  and  Iowa. 

Organizations  to  promote  Shropshire  sheep  are  among  the 
earlier  ones  of  the  kind.  In  1882  the  English  Shropshire  Sheep 
Society  was  established  and  the  first  volume  of  the  flock  book 
published  in  1884,  since  which  twenty-three  volumes  have  been 
issued  to  1905.  The  American  Shropshire  Sheep  Association 
was  organized  at  La  Fayette,  Indiana,  in  February,  1884,  and  is 


Fig.  180.  A  pair  of  prize-winning  Shropshire 
ewes  at  the  Pan-American  Exposition,  1901. 
Owned  and  exhibited  by  G.  H.  Davison, 
Millbrook,  New  York.  Photograph  from  the 
National  Stockman  and  Farmer 


394 


SHEEP 


to-day  the  strongest  individual  sheep  association  in  the  world. 
Its  first  flock  book  was  published  in  1889,  since  which  it  has 
published  eighteen,  and  about  190,000  sheep  have  been  registered 
to  1905.  There  is  also  a  National  Shropshire  Association  in  the 
United  States,  which  has  published  one  flock  book.  Australia 
and  Tasmania  also  have  Shropshire  flock  book  associations. 

High  prices  for  Shropshires  have  been  paid.  In  1881  Mr.  A.  B. 
Allen  wrote : 

I  notice  from  late  sales  reported  in  the  English  papers  the  choicest 
are  bringing  high  prices,  10  to  100  guineas  ($50  to  $500)  each,  and  one 
ram  has  been  sold  for  the  extraordinary  sum  of  200  guineas  ($1000). 

Mr.  Alfred  Mansell,  long  a  prominent  auctioneer  of  Shrop- 
shires abroad,  has  published  quite  a  record  of  Shropshire  sale 
prices.  A  list  of  464  rams  ranged  in  average  selling  price  at 
auction  from  slightly  above  $100  per  head  to  over  $200,  while 
1700  ewes  sold  at  prices  ranging  from  $20  to  over  $50  per  head. 
A  list  of  53  rams  is  also  given,  by  name,  which  have  either  sold 
or  been  hired  for  from  $305  up  to  $1250  each,  nine  of  which 
came  within  the  $1000  list.    In  1896  Mr.  Mansell  wrote  : 

Foreign  and  colonial  flock  masters  have  been  good  customers,  and  at 
high  prices,  running  up  to  200  guineas  for  rams,  30  guineas  for  ram  lambs, 
40  pounds  for  ewes,  and  1 5  guineas  for  ewe  lambs. 

In  the  United  States  Shropshire  rams  have  sold  for  as  high 
as  $500. 


CHAPTER   LII 

THE   OXFORD    DOWN 

The  native  home  of  the  Oxford  Down  sheep  is  Oxford  County, 
England,  in  the  region  adjacent  to  the  early  home  of  the  Cots- 
wold.  The  soil  is  quite  variable,  being  clayey  in  some  places 
and  light  and  poor  in  others.  The  climate  is  fairly  temperate  and 
suited  to  sheep  husbandry.  Good  grazing  abounds  in  Oxford,  and 
roots  and  small  grains  do  well  on  the  better-class  lands. 

The  origin  of  the  Oxford  Down  sheep  is  comparatively  recent. 
About  1833  Mr.  Samuel  Druce  of  Eynsham  and  Messrs.  William 
Gillett  of  Southleigh,  Blake  of  Stanton  Harcourt,  all  in  Oxford- 
shire, and  Mr.  Twynham  in  Hampshire,  began  to  develop  a  new 
breed,  though  Mr.  Druce  was  the  leader  in  the  movement.  In 
1859  Mr.  Druce  wrote  to  Mr.  Pusey : 

The  foundation  of  this  class  of  sheep  was  begun  about  the  year  1833, 
by  using  a  well-made  and  neat  Cotswold  ram  with  Hampshire  down  ewes. 
At  the  same  period  several  breeders  of  sheep  in  this  neighborhood  also 
tried  the  experiment  ;  consequently  there  has  always  been  an  opportunity 
of  getting  fresh  blood  by  selecting  sheep  which  suited  different  flocks,  and 
thereby  maintaining  the  uniform  character  which  is  now  established. 

Druce  and  Gillett  also  used  Southdowns  to  some  extent  in  the 
early  days  of  their  cross-breeding.  In  establishing  this  cross 
Mr.  Druce  wrote  in  1853  that  he  found  no  difficulty  in  keeping 
the  form  and  size  of  the  animal  as  it  should  be,  and  the  wool  of 
a  valuable  quality  and  not  deficient  in  quantity.  He  also  main- 
tained that  the  good  qualities  could  be  better  secured  by  using 
cross-bred  animals  on  both  sides  than  by  using  the  first  cross. 
Crossing  was  undoubtedly  continued  for  many  years,  with  the 
view  of  securing  a  sheep  better  suited  to  light  farm  land  and 
producing  superior  mutton  and  a  heavier  fleece  than  that  yielded 
by  the  pure-bred.  "  Mr.  C.  S.  Read,"  says  Wrightson,  "tells  us 
that  the  (flock)  owner  formerly  divided  his  flock  into  three  parts, 

395 


396 


SHEEP 


putting  a  half-bred  ram  to  the  ewes  that  were  about  right  —  a 
Cotswold  to  the  small  ones  and  a  Down  to  the  coarser  sheep." 
In  1862  the  then  fairly  well  established  type  was  given  a  special 
place  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  Show  at  Battersea,  under 
the  name  of  Oxfordshire  Down. 

The  introduction  of  the  Oxford  Down  to  America  began  over 
a  half  century  ago.  In  1846  "New  Oxford  or  Cotswold  cross- 
bred sheep  "  were  first  imported  to  the  United  States  by  Clayton 

Reybold  of  Delaware.  In 
1853  W.  C.  Rives,  then 
in  England,  sent  to  his 
home  in  Virginia  one  ram 
and  five  ewes.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1853,  R.  S.  Fay 
of  Lynn,  Massachusetts, 
imported  a  small  flock. 
Soon  after  J.  T.  Andrew 
of  West  Cornwall,  Con- 
necticut, established  a 
flock  which  became  very 
famous.  In  1857  Andrew 
sold  the  Messrs.  Smith  of 
Middlefield,  Massachu- 
setts, 27  head,  and  in  Sep- 
tember the  same  year  sold 
a  flock  to  C.  L.  Whiting  of 
Granville,  Ohio,  the  first 
Oxfords  to  enter  that  state.  This  breed  seems  to  have  attracted 
considerable  attention,  and  even  as  early  as  1859a  flock  was  owned 
in  Texas  by  Colonel  C.  G.  Forshay,  who  had  purchased  from 
J.  T.  Andrew.  The  Civil  War  caused  a  break  in  Oxford  Down 
interests,  and  not  until  years  afterward  did  this  breed  again  come 
into  prominence.  Fifteen  to  twenty  years  ago  W.  A.  Shafor  of 
Ohio,  R.  J.  Stone  of  Illinois,  George  McKerrow  of  Wisconsin, 
and  Robert  Miller  of  Ontario,  Canada,  imported  many  superior 
Oxfords,  including  prize  winners  at  the  leading  English  shows. 

Characteristics  of  Oxford  Down  Sheep.  This  breed,  at  a  super- 
ficial glance,  closely  resembles  the  Shropshire.    It  is  hornless,  has 


Fig.  181.  Bryan's  No.  9,  31747,  grand-champion 
Oxford  ram  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Expo- 
sition, 1904.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  R.  J. 
Stone  of  Illinois.    Photograph  by  the  author 


THE  OXFORD   DOWN 


397 


a  dark  brown  face  and  legs,  is  wooled  over  the  forehead,  and  is  a 
typical  mutton  sheep.  However,  under  average  conditions,  the 
Oxford  Down  is  lighter  brown  than  the  Shropshire,  is  not  so 
heavily  wooled  over  the  head,  though  with  longer,  looser  fore- 
lock, has  a  larger  frame  and  more  scale,  with  a  longer,  more 
open  fleece.  In  early  days  the  Oxford  face  was  speckled  or 
mottled  brown  and  white  or  gray,  and  the  fleece  was  rather  long 


Fig.  182.  An  Oxford  ram,  two  years  of  age,  imported  in  1900  by  George 
McKerrow  &  Sons  of  Wisconsin,  a  first-prize  winner  at  six  state  fairs  that 
year  and  five  times  sweepstakes  ram.  Photograph  from  the  National 
Stockman  and  Farmer 

and  open,  quite  suggestive  of  the  long-wool  type,  as  might  be 
expected,  considering  the  Cotswold  blood  used.  The  modern 
Oxford,  however,  has  been  bred  to  be  uniformly  brown  in  face, 
and  the  fleece  has  been  bred  shorter  and  more  compact,  although 
at  the  present  time  this  is  essentially  the  largest  of  the  middle- 
wool  breeds.  The  head  of  the  Oxford  is  rarely  wooled  much 
below  the  forehead,  and  the  ears  tend  to  be  somewhat  long  and 
thin  and  free  of  wool.    As  a  rule  Oxfords  show  the  distinctive 


398 


SHEEP 


mutton  form,  with  a  strong  breadth  of  back  and  excellent  leg 
of  mutton.  The  skin  of  the  Oxford  Down,  like  the  Shropshire, 
frequently  lacks  color,  being  bluish  tinted  and  lacking  the  pink 
color  desirable.  Perhaps  no  breed  of  sheep  has  shown  greater 
improvement  in  recent  years  than  this. 

The  size  of  the  Oxford  Down  places  it  in  the  first  rank.  Rams 
have  been  shown  that  weighed  above  400  pounds,  and  275  pounds 
for  the  mature  male  is  a  weight  easily  attained.  Mature  ewes 
should  weigh  close  to  200  pounds  or  more.  In  a  statement  in 
the  Breeders  Gazette  in  1889,  on  Oxford  weights,  Mr.  George 
McKerrow,  a  prominent  breeder,  gave  the  following  figures  : 
2  rams,  two  years  old,  averaged  303 \  pounds  each;  4  yearling 
rams  averaged  203  pounds  each  ;  4  aged  ewes  averaged  2 1 5 
pounds  each  ;  5  yearling  ewes  1 J  J  pounds ;  and  8  March  and 
April  lambs,  about  September  1,  averaged  118  pounds  each. 
These  were  not  fat  sheep.  In  the  American  Sheep  Breeder  an 
Ohio  man  writes  that  in  September,  1890,  his  ewes  from  one  to 
five  years  old  averaged  193  pounds  and  his  rams  325  pounds. 

The  Oxford  Down  as  a  feeder  ranks  deservedly  high.  Being 
quiet  of  temperament  and  of  considerable  size,  the  breed  easily 
thrives  under  conditions  of  restraint  and  fattens  rapidly  to  large 
size.  In  the  Iowa  fattening  wether  lamb  test  the  Oxfords  in 
one  trial  gained  a  daily  average  of  .52  pound,  and  in  a  second 
trial  .40  pound,  requiring  in  the  first  trial  740  and  in  the  sec- 
ond 1 03 1  pounds  of  dry  matter  for  each  100  pounds  of  gain. 
The  Oxford  carcasses  did  not  dress  out  as  well  as  most  of  the 
other  breeds,  those  in  the  first  trial  rating  55.2  per  cent  and  in 
the  second  50.08,  and  bringing  $4.50  per  hundredweight  live 
weight  in  the  first  trial  and  $5.40  in  the  second.  The  Iowa 
records  give  the  Oxford  about  an  average  rating  in  feeding  results. 
In  the  Smithfield  Club  Show  in  1889  the  Oxford  wethers  weighed 
to  show  a  daily  gain  of  9.3  ounces,  and  the  wether  lambs  10  ounces 
per  day,  surpassing  both  Southdown  and  Shropshire.  The  gen- 
eral evidence  shows  the  Oxford  to  be  a  feeder  that  will  do  well  for 
considerable  periods,  and  such  as  the  market  readily  purchases. 

The  Oxford  Down  cross-bred  or  grade  has  long  met  with  favor, 
but  of  late  has  rapidly  grown  in  the  esteem  of  American  sheep 
men.     From  the  first  this  merit  of  the  Oxford  was  extolled ;  it 


THE  OXFORD  DOWN 


399 


is  a  cross-bred  that  feeds  rapidly  to  advantage  on  a  variety  of 
lands.  The  large  size  and  heavy  shearing  quality  of  this  breed 
has  attracted  our  farmers,  so  that  pure-bred  rams  are  in  demand 
to  grade  up  flocks  with  Merino  or  common  ewes.  This  produces 
offspring  of  excellent  mutton  qualities,  shearing  large  fleeces  and 
meeting  with  popular  favor.  This  demand  is  not  restricted  to 
America.  The  English  writers  state  that  Oxford  rams  are  in 
special  favor'  in  Germany  for  crossing  on  Merino  ewes,  where 


Fig.  183.  The  grand-champion  Oxford  ewe  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Expo- 
sition, 1904,  and  first  in  class  at  six  state  fairs.  Owned  and  exhibited 
by  George  McKerrow  &  Sons  of  Wisconsin.  Photograph  from  the 
National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

they  are  considerably  used.  In  Scotland  the  use  of  Oxford  rams 
on  Cheviot  ewes  or  cross-bred  ewes  is  attracting  favorable  atten- 
tion. At  the  Scottish  National  Fat  Stock  Show  in  1899  the 
Oxford  crosses  took  all  the  prizes  in  a  class  of  twenty-five  entries, 
a  remarkable  showing. 

The  Oxford  as  a  wool  producer  is  in  special  favor  to-day. 
Shearing  a  heavy  fleece  of  combing  wool,  which  tends  to  coarse- 
ness and  length  of  staple,  it  thus  satisfies  the  demand  of  the 


400  SHEEP 

farmer  for  weight.  In  i860  Lawrence  Smith  of  Massachusetts 
stated  that  his  flock  of  store  and  breeding  ewes  usually  sheared 
from  5  to  7  pounds,  with  his  rams'  fleeces  sometimes  weighing 
10  pounds.  Thirty  years  later  an  Ohio  breeder  wrote  that  his 
Oxford  Down  flock  sheared  an  average  that  year  of  1 1  pounds 
14  ounces  per  head.  In  the  Iowa  breed  test  the  Oxford  wether 
lambs  in  one  trial  sheared  1 1  pounds  and  in  another  8  pounds, 
the  fleeces  bringing  $1.44  and  $1.16  respectively,  materially 
excelling  all  other  middle-wool  breeds.  A  high-class  Oxford 
Down  flock  should  shear  a  fleece  averaging  close  to  twelve 
pounds  unwashed   wool. 

The  prolific  quality  of  the  Oxford  Down  has  long  caused  favor- 
able comment  among  the  breeders  of  this  class.    Twins  are  fairly 


^^^^^EMc^ilpi^M^gCJIIa^^jC^ffU 

: 

■  •  -   .       

Fig.  184.    Oxfords  on  pasture  on  the  farm  of  George  Adams,  Faringdon, 
England.    Photograph  by  the  author 

frequent  and  the  ewes  usually  make  good  mothers  and  furnish 
ample  milk  to  the  lambs.  The  ewes,  however,  probably  do  not 
rank  with  the  Shropshire  in  producing  twins. 

The  distribution  of  the  Oxford  Down  is  very  widespread. 
Originally  confined  to  Oxfordshire,  it  is  now  found  in  about  a 
score  of  counties  in  England,  as  well  as  in  Scotland,  Wales,  and 
Ireland.  So  great  has  the  breed  grown  in  favor  in  recent  years 
that  it  has  become  very  widely  distributed,  flocks  now  existing 
in  Germany,  France,  Sweden,  Switzerland,  Russia,  Brazil,  Argen- 
tina, Australia,  New  Zealand,  Canada,  the  United  States,  and 
elsewhere.  While  the  Oxford  is  not  suited  to  range  conditions, 
it  nevertheless  seems  to  thrive  under  a  variety  of  soil  and  cli- 
mate, though  it  is  best  suited  to  the  more  level  or  slightly  rolling 


THE  OXFORD  DOWN 


401 


lands.  In  the  United  States  there  are  Oxfords  in  many  states, 
although  Illinois,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Wisconsin,  and  New  York  have 
noted  flocks,  as  well  as  Ontario,  Canada,  where  the  breed  has 
long  met  with  favor. 

Organizations  for  the  promotion  of  Oxford  Down  sheep  first 
came  into  existence  in  1884,  when  the  American  Oxford  Down 
Sheep  Record  Association  was  established.  This  association  pub- 
lished its  first  flock  book  in  1883  and  has  since  then  up  to  1906 
issued  ten  volumes,  including  the  registration  of  about  35,500 
rams  and  ewes.  'In  1888  The  Oxford  Down  Sheep  Breeders' 
Association  was  organized  in  England,  and  the  first  volume  of 
their  flock  book  appeared  in  1889,  in  which  fifty -four  flocks 
were  registered.  Since  then  the  English  Association,  up  to 
1905,  has  published  seventeen  flock  books. 

The  prices  paid  for  Oxford  Down  sheep  have  not  ranged  very 
high.  In  i860  R.  S.  Fay  had  a  sale  at  Lynn,  Massachusetts, 
when  the  prices  ranged  from  $7.50  to  $51.00  a  head.  The 
annual  Oxford  Ram  Fair  in  England  shows  something  of  prices 
current  for  this  breed.  In  1900  at  this  sale  the  highest  price 
paid  was  42  guineas  ($210)  for  a  yearling  ram,  and  50  yearlings 
from  the  flock  of  Worley  &  Son  averaged  slightly  over  $50  per 
head.  In  1903,  60  rams  sold  by  Mr.  George  Adams  averaged 
8  guineas  ($40).  The  same  year,  at  the  sale  of  J.  T.  Hobbs, 
at  Cirencester,  the  draft  from  his  flock  averaged  in  excess  of 
$75  Per  head,  one  ram  bringing  58  guineas  ($290).  In  1876 
T.  S.  Cooper  of  Pennsylvania  showed  the  ram  Freeland  at  the 
Centennial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia,  a  famous  prize  winner 
there  and  in  England,  which  he  hired  of  A.  F.  M.  Druce  of 
England  for  $425. 


CHAPTER   LIII 

THE    HAMPSHIRE    DOWN 

The  native  home  of  the  Hampshire  Down  breed  of  sheep  is  in 
south-central  England,  in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  which,  on 
its  southern  border,  touches  the  English  Channel.  Like  all  of 
south  England,  the  climate  is  temperate  and  rather  moderate 
the  year  round.  The  land  is  rolling,  with  the  downs  more  or 
less  crossing  the  county.  The  soil  is  of  a  chalky  character  and  is 
none  too  fertile,  producing  short,  fine  grass,  and  suited  to  wheat, 
while  roots  do  well  on  the  better  lands. 

The  origin  of  the  Hampshire  Down  sheep  traces  back  to  at 
least  two  sources,  crossed  with  improved  stock.  In  the  counties 
of  Hampshire  and  Wiltshire,  and  also  to  some  extent  in  other 
near-by  counties,  were  large,  slow-maturing,  white-faced,  narrow- 
backed,  fine-fleeced  sheep  with  horns,  known  as  Wiltshires.  The 
horns  turned  back  behind  the  ears  and  about  the  cheeks,  from 
which  peculiarity  they  were  known  as  "crooks."  There  were 
no  other  sheep  like  them  in  England,  and  by  1837  they  had 
practically  disappeared  as  a  result  of  crossing.  In  the  county  of 
Berks  there  was  also  another  old  type  with  horns,  strong  and 
vigorous,  with  dark  face  and  legs.  Early  in  the  last  century  these 
two  types  were  crossed  again  and  again  with  the  Southdown. 
About  1835  the  sheep  of  Hampshire  and  Wiltshire  generally 
showed  Southdown  type  and  character,  and  they  were  exhibited 
at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  Show  at  Oxford  in  1840  as 
West  Country  Down  sheep,  which  name  they  long  retained.  From 
this  stock  was  evolved  the  present  type  known  as  Hampshire 
Down. 

The  early  improvement  of  the  Hampshire  Down  is  largely  due 
to  Mr.  William  Humphrey  of  Oak  Ash,  Newbury,  Hampshire, 
and  Mr.  James  Rawlence  of  Bulbridge,  Wilton,  the  same  county. 
Besides  these  Messrs.  Stephen  King,  William  King,  Moore  of 

402 


THE  HAMPSHIRE  DOWN 


403 


Littlecott,  Edward  Waters,  Frank  Budd,  Saunders  of  Water- 
combe,  Canning  of  Chisledon,  Ferris  of  Manningford,  Alfred  Mor- 
rison, James  Read,  and  Bennett  of  Chilmark  were  prominent 
early  breeders.  Mr.  Humphrey,  however,  is  the  most  important 
of  these,  being  essentially  the  great  Hampshire  Down  improver, 
with  Mr.  Rawlence  a  most  important  later  factor.  About  1834 
Humphrey  began  gathering  up  as  choice  a  flock  as  possible  of 
West  Country  Down  ewes,  breeding  to  them  rams  of  the  same 
class.  In  1842  he  became  impressed  with  the  improved  breeds 
at  the  royal  show  at  Oxford,  notably  the  Cotswolds,  and  believed 
that  his  sheep  might  be  improved  by  crossing.  Consequently  he 
obtained  a  choice  South- 
down ram  from  Jonas 
Webb  and  crossed  on  his 
ewes  with  much  success. 
Later  he  obtained  other 
rams,  three  in  all,  the  only 
outside  ones  ever  used  in 
his  flock.  At  first  he  had 
difficulty  in  loss  of  size, 
but  he  culled  out  the  finer- 
boned,  smaller  ewes  and 
bred  only  the  larger,  more 
robust  ones,  using  choice 
cross-bred  rams  of  his  own 
breeding.  Mr.  Humphrey 
was  very  particular  about 
his  sires  and  the  ewes  they  were  bred  to,  selling  all  undesirable 
ewes  to  the  butcher.  He  died  in  1868,  when  his  flock,  one  of 
very  superior  merit,  was  dispersed.  Mr.  James  Rawlence  bred 
rather  differently,  beginning  with  the  Sussex  breed,  crossing  the 
larger  and  more  robust  ewes  with  the  West  Country  Down  or 
Hampshire  Down  rams.  He  frequently  used  rams  of  Mr.  Hum- 
phrey's breeding,  and  later  bought  Hampshire  ewes  to  which  he 
bred  rams  of  his  own  stock.  By  using  new  blood  gradually, 
and  practicing  careful  selection,  Mr.  Rawlence  developed  a  flock 
of  high  merit.  From  these  two  flocks  has  come  the  best  of 
Hampshire  Down  stock. 


Fig.  185.  The  Earl  4442,  grand-champion 
Hampshire  ram  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
Exposition,  1904.  Shown  by  John  Milton 
of  Michigan.     Photograph  by  the  author 


404 


SHEEP 


The  introduction  of  the  Hampshire  Down  of  the  modern  type 
to  America  probably  first  occurred  in  1855,  when  Thomas  Mes- 
senger of  Great  Neck,  Long  Island,  New  York,  imported  a  small 
flock.  But  little,  however,  was  done  to  introduce  more  Hamp- 
shires  prior  to  1880.     In  188 1  Henry  Metcalf  of  Canandaigua, 

New  York,  imported 
the  ram  Shepherd's 
Pride  2d.  About  1883 
the  breed  was  intro- 
duced into  Michigan, 
and  in  1885  found  its 
way  into  Ohio,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  elsewhere. 

Characteristics  of  the 
Hampshire.  The  head 
is  very  dark  brown  or 
almost  black  in  color, 
is  rather  large,  and 
frequently  has  a  pro- 
nounced Roman  nose. 
The  lips  and  nostrils 
are  black.  The  ears  are 
large,  of  a  dark  mouse 
color  behind,  and  are  more  pointed  than  with  Shropshire  or 
Southdown.  In  the  best  types  the  ears  lean  outward  slightly. 
The  neck  tends  to  be  a  bit  long,  lacking  the  compactness  of  the 
Southdown  ;  yet  Wrightson,  the  best  British  authority  on  this 
breed,  states  that  it  is  thick  and  muscular  and  is  considered  to  be 
a  point  of  special  excellence  and  importance.  He  further  states 
that  the  shoulder  tops  are  wide,  and  that  the  girth  behind  the 
shoulders  and  of  the  entire  fore  end  must  be  well  marked  to 
secure  any  attention  either  in  the  prize  or  sale  ring.  This  breed 
has  been  criticised  by  Wallace,  who  states  that  a  conspicuous 
defect  in  ordinary  specimens  is  a  falling  away  behind  the  shoulder. 
The  type  of  body  and  general  carcass  is  common  with  accepted 
standards  for  other  mutton  breeds.  The  legs  are  dark  brown  in 
color,  like  the  face ;  in  fact  the  color  is  so  deep  a  brown  that 
it  may  almost  be  regarded  as  black.    In  further  reference  to 


Fig.  186.  A  yearling  Hampshire  Down  ewe,  first- 
prize  winner  wherever  shown,  and  first  in  a  pen 
of  three  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of 
England  Show,  1904.  Imported  and  exhibited 
by  Chilmark  Farms,  New  York.  Photograph 
from  Charles  V.  Phelps,  Superintendent 


THE  HAMPSHIRE  DOWN 


405 


these  breed  characteristics  Wrightson  makes  the  following  inter- 
esting comments  upon  the  sources  of  their  inheritance. 

The  slightly  Roman  character  of  the  face  and  the  fine  wool  have  no 
doubt  partly  been  derived  from  the  old  Wiltshire  horned  sheep.  .  .  .  The 
quality  of  the  flesh  and  the  color  have  come  through  the  Southdown,  but 
the  color  has  been  deepened  by  selection.  The  length  of  ear  has  probably 
been  derived  from  an  alliance  with  the  Cotswold. 


The  size  of  the  Hampshire  Down  is  large,  being  second  only 
to  the  Oxford  Down,  although  Wrightson  classes  the  Hampshire 
as  the  largest  of  the  middle-wool  breeds.  Mature  rams  should 
weigh  about  250  pounds  and  ewes  190  or  so.  J.  H.  Taft  of 
Michigan  made  an  importation  of  ewes  which  in  fair  flesh  aver- 
aged from  175  to  200  pounds,  while  lambs  of  his  own  raising 
at  about  ten  months  old  weighed  an  average  of  113^  pounds. 
James  Wood  of  New  York,  one  of  the  best  American  authorities 
on  the  breed,  states  that 
mature  rams  weigh  300 
pounds  and  ewes  some- 
thing over  200,  but  these 
must  be  above  average 
specimens. 

The  Hampshire  Down 
as  a  mutton  sheep  ranks 
high.  It  has  long  been  a 
popular  breed  in  the  Eng- 
lish market,  and,  begin- 
ning nearly  twenty  years 
ago,  met  with  favor  in 
the  American  early  lamb 
market,  largely  due  to  the 
importations  and  popular- 
izing methods  of  James 
Wood  of  New  York.  Almost  nothing  has  been  done  in  experi- 
mentally feeding  sheep  of  this  breed  in  America.  In  England 
Lawes  and  Gilbert  secured  fair  results. 

The  Hampshire  Down  for  early  lambs  has  been  regarded  as 
of  special  merit.    The  lambs  mature  early  and  fatten  easily,  and 


Fig.  187.  A  two-year-old  Hampshire  Down 
ewe,  first  and  champion  at  seven  American 
fairs  in  1904.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  Chil- 
mark  Farms,  New  York.  Photograph  from 
Charles  V.  Phelps,  Superintendent 


4o6  SHEEP 

as  the  early  lamb  buyer  has  long  preferred  the  dark  face,  the 
Hampshire  especially  supplies  this  demand. 

The  Hampshire  Down  for  crossing  or  grading  is  valued  by 
lamb  producers  in  particular.  In  England  it  is  customary  to  draft 
from  the  flock  the  old  ewes  and  sell  them  at  fairs,  after  which 
Cotswold  or  light-faced  rams  are  bred  to  them.  The  result  of 
the  cross  fatten  rapidly,  and  if  kept  till  yearlings  produce  a 
large  amount  of  mutton  and  wool.  It  is  said  that  large  numbers 
of  Hampshire  rams  are  sold  into  Lincolnshire,  where  they  are 
bred  to  old  Lincoln  ewes  for  producing  fat  lambs  or  wethers. 
The  Hampshire  also  crosses  well  on  the  Leicester.  The  Hamp- 
shire ram,  used  on  grade  Merinos  or  pure-breds,  produces  the 
dark  face  and  superior  mutton  type  of  early  lamb.  This  is  one  of 
the  most  popular  crosses  in  America  for  using  Hampshire  blood. 

The  Hampshire  Down  as  a  wool  producer  does  not  rank  high. 
The  fleece  is  of  medium  length  but  lacks  either  Southdown  or 
Shropshire  quality,  and  for  the  size  of  sheep,  shears  rather  light, 
yielding  about  seven  pounds  of  unwashed  .wool  per  head  for 
the  flock. 

The  Hampshire  as  a  grazer  has  recognized  merit  in  England, 
where  flocks  are  generally  grazed  in  summer  within  hurdles,  a 
condition  to  which  they  are  well  suited.  They  graze  together, 
often  in  semicircles,  and  pasture  closely.  In  Hampshire  and 
Wiltshire  a  large  number  of  sheep  are  maintained  upon  the  land. 
Wrightson  notes  that  his  summer  flock  on  the  College  Farm  of 
six  hundred  acres  at  Downton,  with  a  favorable  lambing  season, 
consists  of  from  1250  to  1300  sheep  and  lambs,  besides  a  dairy 
of  30  cows  and  young  stock,  a  very  superior  showing. 

The  fecundity  of  the  Hampshire,  while  not  of  the  highest,  is 
distinctly  superior.  In  1903  the  English  association  kept  a 
lambing  record  of  37  flocks  comprising  15,482  ewes.  These 
reared  18,462  lambs,  or  IL9.17  per  cent,  while  only  2.21  per 
cent  of  the  lambs  dropped  were  lost.  In  a  similar  record  for 
1902  the  percentage  raised  was  116.82.  This  speaks  well  for 
the  fecundity  and  maternal  character  of  Hampshire  ewes. 

The  distribution  of  the  Hampshire  is  widespread.  In  1903, 
for  example,  exports  were  made  from  England  to  the  United 
States,  Canada,  Mexico,  Argentina,  Uruguay,  Chile,  Australia, 


THE  HAMPSHIRE  DOWN 


407 


New  Zealand,  South  Africa,  Germany,  Russia,  Hungary,  Portu- 
gal, Jamaica,  and  elsewhere.  In  England  the  breed  is  found  in 
a  score  of  counties,  though  chiefly  in  Hampshire,  Wiltshire, 
Dorset,  Sussex,  Surrey,  and  vicinity.  In  the  United  States  it 
has  a  small  local  distribution,  being  most  common  in  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  Indiana,  where  prominent  flocks  are 
kept.  Small  flocks  also  are  kept  in  Canada,  in  Ontario  and 
Quebec.  The  breed  is  suited  to  rolling  lands  producing  abun- 
dant grazing,  rather  than  hilly  country. 

Hampshire  sheep  associations  exist  in  England  and  America. 
The  Hampshire  Down  Sheep  Breeders'  Association  of  England 
was  organized  in  1 889,  and  has  published  seventeen  volumes  of  the 
flock  book.  Volume  XIV  shows  a  membership  of  360  and  the 
registration  of  2 1 2,000  head  in  flock  form,  of  which  about  2 10,000 
are  females.  The  Hampshire  Down  Sheep  Breeders'  Association 
of  America  was  also  organized  in  1889,  the  first  flock  book  being 
published  in  1890.  Up  to  1905  eight  volumes  have  been  issued 
and  4900  rams  and  1 1,501  ewes  recorded. 

The  prices  received  for  Hampshire  sheep,  especially  in  England, 
present  a  high  average.  In  1903  Waters  and  Rawlence  sold  at 
public  sale  about  2500  head,  which  generally  brought  good 
prices.  At  the  Earl  of  Carnavon  sale  one  ram  brought  about 
$550,  and  100  yearling  ewes  averaged  about  $35  each.  At 
J.  Flower's  Chilmark  sale  and  ram  letting  two  rams  were  let  at 
135  guineas  ($675)  each,  the  record  for  the  past  thirty-two  years, 
with  several  ram  lambs  selling  for  from  34  to  j6  guineas  ($170 
to  $380).     This  was  one  of  the  memorable  sales  of  the  breed. 


CHAPTER  LIV 


THE    DORSET   HORN 


The  native  home  of  Dorset  Horn  sheep,  sometimes  called  in 
England  Somerset  and  Dorset  sheep,  is  in  the  counties  of 
central  and  southern  England,  but  notably  Dorset,  Somerset, 
and  Wiltshire.  The  land  here  is  generally  rolling  in  localities, 
rather  hilly,  and  tends  to  a  clayey  or  chalky  character.  Roots 
and  small  grains,  especially  wheat  and  grass,  are  the  staple  crops, 
these  doing  well  on  the  better  lands.  The  climate  is  very  tem- 
perate and  well  suited  to 
outdoor  life  the  entire 
year. 

The  origin  of  the  Dor- 
set Horn  seems  to  be  from 
old  native  stock  of  Dorset 
and  Somerset  counties 
especially.  The  general 
evidence  of  British  author- 
ities is  that  this  is  the  only 
horned  breed  with  white 
face  and  leg  in  Britain,  and 
that  this  characteristic 
has  been  long  preserved. 
In  1842  Professor  Low 
wrote  that  in  Dorset  from 
time  immemorial  there  had  existed  a  breed  of  sheep  with  horns 
common  to  both  sexes,  having  white  face  and  legs,  low  shoulders, 
broad  deep  loins,  long  but  not  coarse  limbs,  black  lips  and  nostrils, 
though  sometimes  flesh-colored,  and  possessing  fine  wool.  In  the 
adjoining  county  of  Somerset  was  a  rather  larger  type  of  much 
the  same  breed,  lanker  in  form,  longer  wooled,  and  with  pink  or 
flesh-colored  nose,  by  which  they  were  known  as  "  Pink-Nosed 

408 


Fig.  188.  A  Dorset  ram,  first  prize  in  class  at 
several  state  fairs  in  1898,  shown  by  Tran- 
quillity Farm  of  New  Jersey.  Photograph 
by  the  author 


THE  DORSET  HORN 


409 


Somersets,"  which  fattened  to  greater  weight  and  had  larger 
lambs  than  the  sheep  of  Dorsetshire.  Low  further  comments  on 
the  encroachment  of  the  Southdown  and  Leicester  on  the 
Dorset  territory,  stating  that  pure-bred  flocks  were  becoming 
scarce,  owing  to  the  crossing  of  these  breeds.  In  fact,  he  stated 
that  the  breed  was  gradually  diminishing  and  was  in  danger  of 
being  extinguished.  In  1856  Professor  Wilson,  another  British 
authority,  writes  that  "the  practice  of  crossing  with  the  South- 
down is  becoming  very  general."  In  this  same  connection  Youatt, 
in  1837,  comments  on  the  use  of  Devonshire  Knots  and  Leices- 
ters  on  Dorsets,  but  says  the  cross  was  not  successful.    However, 


BT 

■swi 

f&Sfj 

n  %  J 

if  ;-^fet 

I'^^B 

^^.  J^^ 

■^*r~        ^^    yamF*^  .■ 

Fig.  189.    Dorset  rams  owned  by  J.  L.  Henderson  &  Son,  of  Pennsylvania. 
Photograph  from  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

some  flocks  were  apparently  kept  free  from  crossing,  notably  on 
the  isle  of  Portland,  where  about  4000  sheep  of  a  small  Dorset 
type  existed  in  1840.  The  general  improvement  of  the  breed  as 
a  whole  was  secured  by  selection  on  the  part  of  various  breeders 
in  the  western  part  of  Dorset,  but  especially  by  Richard  Seymour 
of  Bradpole,  who  between  1830  and  1840  perhaps  had  the  best 
flock  extant.  Among  some  of  the  other  early  prominent  breeders 
were  Matthew  Paul,  John  Pope,  John  Pitfield,  the  Messrs.  Davy, 
William  Way,  and  Thomas  Chick.  Between  i860  and  1885  the 
breed  was  much  improved  by  Henry  Mayo  of  Coker's  Frome. 

The  introduction  of  the  Dorset  to  America  is  very  recent,  being 
the  last  of  the  well-known  breeds  brought  from  England  to  this 
country.    The  first  Dorsets  shown  in  the  United  States  were 


410 


SHEEP 


some  ewes  and  lambs  exhibited  in  1885  at  the  American  Fat 
Stock  Show  at  Chicago  by  E.  and  A.  Stanford  of  Steying, 
England.  The  first  owned  in  this  country  were  purchased  in 
March,  1887,  by  William  Daley  of  Lockport,  New  York,  from 
Valancey  E.  Fuller  of  Canada.  In  May,  1887,  E.  F.  Bowditch 
of  Framingham,  Massachusetts,  made  an  importation,  he  being  a 
specialist  in  early-lamb  raising.  The  following  month  of  June 
Adin  Thayer,  of  Hoosic  Falls,  New  York,  imported  12  head. 
This  same  year,  1887,  Woodward  &  Jaques  of  Lockport,  New 
York,  and  R.  J.  Buck  of  Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  made  importa- 
tions, and  the  following  year,  in  July,  Rutherford  Stuyvesant  of 
New  Jersey  imported  2  rams  and  28  ewes  from  the  English 
flocks  of  John  and  William  Kinder.  In  September,  1889,  Mr.  T. 
S.  Cooper  of  Coopersburg,  Pennsylvania,  imported  153  head, 
mostly  from  the  flock  of  Thomas  Mayo,  and  again  in  1891  brought 
over  204  more  head.  The  sheep  imported  by  Mr.  Cooper  were 
very  superior  and  were  sold  and  distributed  among  numerous 
breeders,  especially  in  the  east. 

Characteristics  of  the  Dorset  sheep.  Both  males  and  females 
have  horns,  those  on  the  male  curving  backward  and  around 
spirally,  while  those  on  the  ewes  curve  outward,  down,  and 
forward,  with  tips  rising  about  level  with  the  eye,  perhaps  turn- 
ing in  slightly.  The  face,  legs,  and  hoofs  are  white.  The  nostrils 
are  also  white,  face  strong,  with  considerable  breadth  between 
the  eyes.  Compared  with  the  ideal  mutton  sheep  the  neck  and 
body  tend  to  be  long  and  rangy,  and  there  is  hardly  the  spring 
of  rib  and  levelness  of  back  most  desirable.  The  head  should 
have  a  short  foretop  of  wool,  the  back  part  of  the  head  below 
the  ear  should  be  wooled,  and  the  body  generally  be  well  covered 
with  a  fine  fleece,  extending  down  to  knees  and  hocks. 

The  size  of  the  Dorset  is  from  medium  to  heavy  among  the 
middle-wool  breeds.  Mature  rams  in  fair  flesh  should  weigh 
about  225  pounds  and  ewes  165  pounds.  In  some  cases,  how- 
ever, much  larger  weights  are  secured.  Mr.  T.  S.  Cooper 
selected  a  large  type  in  his  importations.  One  two-year-old 
ram  attained  a  weight  of  317  pounds  and  a  yearling  287  pounds, 
while  ram  lambs  weighed  184  and  164  pounds  at  five  months  one 
week  old.   These  were  mostly  first-prize  winners.   Three  first-prize 


THE  DORSET  HORN 


411 


yearling  ewes  at  the  1889  royal  show  weighed  at  shearing  time 
262,  245,  and  222  pounds  respectively,  and  in  August  each 
dropped  twin  lambs.    These,  however,  were  excessive  weights. 

The  Dorset  as  a  mutton  producer  cannot  be  placed  in  the  front 
rank.  The  meat  of  the  wether  is  of  fair  quality  when  not  over- 
fat,  while  fat  lambs  rank  very  well  indeed.  In  the  dressed  car- 
cass the  Dorset  does  not  reach  the  best  standard.  In  the  Iowa 
station  breed  tests,  in  the  first  trial  with  fattening  wether  lambs, 
the  Dorsets  dressed  52.6  per  cent  carcass,  being  valued  at  $3.75 
per  hundred,  the  poorest  record  made  by  ten  breeds ;  while  in 
the  second  trial  they  dressed  54. 1 1  per  cent,  being  surpassed  only 
by  the  Southdown,  the 
carcass  selling  at  $5.50  a 
hundred,  compared  with 
$5.75  for  Southdown  and 
$5.60  for  Shropshire. 
Under  fair  conditions  Dor- 
set mutton  will  rank  as 
about  medium  in  quality. 

The  Dorset  as  a  feeder 
will  do  well.  The  lambs 
grow  rapidly,  and  with 
abundance  of  feed  may  be 
turned  on  the  market  at 
an  early  age.  The  breed 
stands  confinement  and 


Fig.  190.  A  Dorset  ewe  of  unusual  merit. 
First  prize  at  several  state  fairs  in  1898. 
Shown  by  Tranquillity  Farm  of  New  Jersey. 
Photograph  by  the  author 


folding  well.  In  the  Iowa  breed  test  the  fattening  Dorset  lambs 
made  an  average  daily  gain  of  .48  and  .43  pound  in  the  first  and 
second  trials  respectively,  requiring  785  and  989  pounds  of  dry 
matter  for  100  pounds  of  gain. 

The  Dorset  as  an  early-lamb  producer  has  great  distinction, 
having  long  been  famous  in  this  regard  over  other  British  breeds. 
The  ewes  will  breed  during  much  of  the  year,  so  that  they  have 
a  special  value  for  producing  Christmas  lambs.  It  has  long  been 
customary  in  England  to  breed  the  ewes  in  June  and  July  to 
lamb  in  November  and  December,  furnishing  early  lambs  for  the 
London  market.  In  the  United  States,  owing  to  the  hot  sum- 
mers, the  ewes  are  more  readily  bred  from  the  middle  of  March 


412 


SHEEP 


into  May.  The  lambs  fatten  rapidly  and  soon  attain  good  weights, 
In  England  November  or  December  lambs  are  generally  sold  fat 
in  March  and  April,  when  they  weigh  40  to  44  pounds  in  the 
dressed  carcass,  according  to  Thomas  Chick,  long  a  well-known 
Dorset  breeder. 

The  fecundity  of  the  Dorset  is  very  fair.  Not  only  will  the 
ewes  produce  lambs  twice  a  year  if  desired,  but  they  frequently 
produce  twins,  while  triplets  are  not  rare.  The  general  evidence 
from  all  sides  shows  the  Dorset  Horn  to  be  one  of  the  more 
prolific  breeds.    The  evidence  given  in  the  Dorset  Horn  flock 

books,  however,  does  not 
show  the  breed  to  be  so 
prolific  at  one  lambing  as 
is  the  Shropshire.  The 
dams  make  excellent 
mothers  and  produce  a 
large  amount  of  milk, 
oftentimes  drying  off  with 
difficulty. 

The  Dorset  Horn  for 
grading  or  crossing  has  a 
special  value,  if  mutton 
production  is  the  thing 
sought.  Shropshire  or 
Southdown  rams  on  old 
Dorset  Horn  ewes  will 
produce  very  high-class 
lambs  with  dark  faces,  just  what  the  market  wants.  A  grade 
or  cross  from  Merino  stock  meets  with  favor  in  America.  In 
discussing  this  subject  Messrs.  Wing  and  Miller  state  that 
a  Merino  grade  from  large,  roomy  Merino  ewes  and  a  blocky 
vigorous  Dorset  ram  will  prove  a  surer  breeder,  if  possible,  than 
the  pure-bred  Dorset  ewe.  There  are  not  many  growers  of  hot- 
house lambs  but  what  prefer  Dorset  grades  from  Merino  foun- 
dation to  any  other  ewe,  the  pure-bred  not  excepted.  These 
ewes  are  again  bred  to  pure-bred  Dorset  rams,  and  the  result  is 
a  very  blocky,  easily  fattened  lamb.  These  grade  ewes  are  also 
better  milkers  than  the  pure-breds. 


Fig.  191.  The  first-prize  pen  of  Dorset  ewe 
lambs  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of 
England  Show,  1904.  Photograph  by  H.  B. 
Arbuckle,  from  the  National  Stockman  and 
Farmer 


THE  DORSET  HORN 


413 


The  Dorset  Horn  as  a  wool  producer  is  open  to  material 
improvement.  Mature  rams  will  shear  about  9  pounds  and 
ewes  about  6  pounds  of  unwashed  wool.  Twenty  imported 
sheep  of  J.  B.  Henderson  of  Pennsylvania  are  credited  with 
shearing  an  average  of  10  pounds  each.  The  fleece  of  the 
Dorset  has  improved  in  weight  and  quality.  Wrightson  states 
that  fifty  years  ago  it  was  computed  as  averaging  3!  pounds, 
whereas  now  (1895)  a  breeding  flock  of  ewes  will  clip  from  5  to 
6  pounds  of  wool,  and  yearling  ewes  from  6  to  7  pounds,  while 
rams  will  clip  8  to  12  pounds  each,  all  these  weights  following 
brook  washings.  Dorset  sheep  have  too  short  a  fleece  and  show 
too  little  wool  on  the  under  side  of  the  body.  The  quality  of 
the  staple  is  of  medium  grade,   being  neither  fine  nor  coarse. 


Fig.  192.  A  view  in  Dorsetshire,  showing  part  of  the  Flower  flock  of  Dorsets 
soon  after  shearing.  From  a  photograph  by  H.  B.  Arbuckle,  from  the 
National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

The  popularity  of  the  Dorset  outside  of  its  native  home  is  rather 
restricted.  It  is  shown  at  fairs  or  shows  in  but  a  very  limited  way, 
either  in  England  or  the  United  States,  and  the  public  is  not 
generally  familiar  with  the  breed.  In  spite  of  this  fact  it  is  a  mut- 
ton sheep  of  much  merit,  entitled  to  greater  recognition,  and  for 
early  lambs  is  of  much  value.  With  an  improved  capacity  to 
produce  wool,  it  no  doubt  will  meet  with  more  favor. 

Dorset  horns  as  a  protection  from  dogs.  Early  advocates  of  the 
breed  argued  that  the  Dorset  by  means  of  its  horns  would  pro- 
tect itself  better  from  dogs  than  would  hornless  sheep,  but  this 
claim  has  been  very  generally  discarded  in  recent  years,  as 
not  being  worthy  of  special  distinction. 

The  distribution  of  the  Dorset  Horn  is  not  as  widespread 
as  most   other   British   breeds.    In    England   it  is   found   most 


4H 


SHEEP 


abundantly  in  Dorset  and  Somerset  counties,  especially  on  the 
islands  of  Wight,  Purbeck,  and  Portland,  where  superior  flocks 
may  be  found.  In  1903,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Dorset  Horn 
Association,  46,878  head  were  reported  in  Dorset,  9458  in  Somer- 
set, and  6728  on  the  Isle  of  Wight,  these  all  being  registered 
sheep.  At  the  annual  sale  of  Dorsets  at  Dorchester  as  many  as 
15,000  head  are  sold.  The  breed  has  not  been  taken  up  with 
much  activity  abroad.  In  the  United  States  high-class  flocks 
are  found  in  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and 
Connecticut,  but  the  breed  is  found  in  many  other  states  and 
also  in  Canada.  Dorsets  have  also  been  exported  to  Australasia 
and  other  British  provinces.  The  breed  seems  well  adapted  to 
the  level  or  slightly  rolling  lands  where  food  is  abundant.  It 
has  also  thrived  in  the  Allegheny  mountain  region  under 
conditions  of  good  grazing. 

Organizations  of  the  Dorset  Horn  sheep  breeders  were  perfected 
in  1 89 1  in  both  England  and  the  United  States.  In  England 
the  Dorset  Horn  Sheep  Breeders'  Society  gives  official  super- 
vision to  the  breed.  This  association  issued  its  first  flock  book 
in  1892,  and  up  to  1905  has  published  fourteen  volumes,  regis- 
tering some  1 800  rams.  In  1 89 1  the  Dorset  Horn  Sheep  Breeders 
of  America  organized  and  established  a  flock  book,  publishing 
the  first  and  second  volumes  in  one  in  1894.  Owing  to  a  dis- 
agreement among  the  members,  in  1897  the  Continental  Dorset 
Club  was  organized,  with  headquarters  in  Ohio.  This  club  pub- 
lished its  first  flock  book  in  1900,  and  in  1905  issued  its  third 
volume. 


CHAPTER  LV 

THE  CHEVIOT 

The  native  home  of  the  Cheviot  breed  of  sheep  is  in  the  border 
country  between  England  and  Scotland,  especially  in  the  counties 
of  Roxburgh  (Scotland)  and  Northumberland  (England).  The 
country  is  hilly  or  mountainous,  rising  to  an  elevation  of  nearly 
3000  feet  in  the  section  known  as  the  Cheviot  Hills.  The  hill- 
sides are  free  of  timber,  excepting  in  the  case  of  small  artificial 
plantings,  but  are  covered  with  short,  nutritious  grass.  The 
climate  is  moist  and  rough,  snow  falling  frequently  in  winter, 
although  not  usually  attaining  much  depth. 

The  origin  of  the  Cheviot  is  obscure,  like  most  other  breeds. 
Cheviots  have  been  bred  in  the  border  country  from  very  early 
times.  In  1791  David  Irving  published  a  letter  in  the  Annals  of 
Agriculture  relating  to  experiments  by  him  on  Cheviots,  com- 
mencing in  1777.  The  Cheviot  has  been  crossed  more  or  less 
with  Black  Faced  Highland,  Leicester,  and  Merino,  but  the 
character  of  the  breed  has  undergone  great  changes  through 
careful  selection,  for  the  influence  of  the  breeds  mentioned  has 
not  been  notable.  In  1796  Naismyth  wrote  that  the  Cheviot 
was  well  polled,  was  smooth  and  white  of  face  and  leg,  or  some- 
what mixed  with  black  or  brown.  There  was  a  tendency  to  too 
much  leg,  the  shoulders  were  thin  in  some  individuals,  and  the 
fleece  was  generally  close  and  even,  the  wool  soft  and  fine,  from 
two  to  three  and  one-half  inches  long.  He  further  says  :  "  The 
same  kind  of  sheep  have  fed  in  this  district  (Cheviot  Hills)  from 
time  immemorial ;  nor  does  anybody  allege  that  they  were  even 
natives  of  any  other  region."  The  British  Wool  Society  over  a 
century  ago  did  much  to  popularize  the  breed,  and  at  one  time 
it  became  generally  distributed  over  Scotland.  The  improve^ 
ment  of  the  Cheviot  was  gradually  brought  about  by  the  breeders 
in  general,  although  after  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century 

415 


416 


SHEEP 


a  Mr.  Robson,  by  use  of  sheep  from  Lincolnshire,  is  credited  with 
much  improving  the  breed.  In  the  last  century  Mr.  Thomas  Elliott 
of  Under  Hindhope,  Jedburgh,  was  a  famous  breeder  and  improver. 
The  introduction  of  the  Cheviot  to  the  United  States  first 
occurred  in  1838,  by  Robert  Youngs  of  Delhi,  Delaware  County, 

New  York.  They  had 
some  time  previously  been 
imported  into  Canada  by 
a  Mr.  Pope  of  Cookshire, 
Quebec.  In  1842  George 
Lough  and  a  Mr.  David- 
son of  Delaware  County, 
New  York,  made  importa- 
tions. In  1845  T.  J.  Car- 
michael  imported  three 
rams  and  six  ewes  to  Jef- 
ferson County,  Wisconsin. 
Cheviots  were  introduced 


Fig.  193.  Trinlieknowe  (1327),  a  Cheviot  show 
and  stud  ram  owned  by  J.  R.  C.  Smith,  Mow- 
haugh,  Scotland.  Photograph  from  the  owner 


into  Pennsylvania  in  1889  by  T.  M.  Patterson,  into  Illinois  in  1888 
by  E.  Pumphrey,  and  into  Indiana  in  1891  by  H.  H.  Keim. 

Characteristics  of  the  Cheviot.  The  head  is  usually  hornless 
and  is  covered  with  hard,  white,  short  hair  to  behind  the  ear  and 
around  the  jaw.  The  lips  and  nostrils  should  be  black,  though 
frequently  they  are  mottled  flesh  colored  and  black.  The  nose 
should  be  broad,  with  a  Roman  curve  to  a  slight  degree.  The 
head  is  short  and  broad  between  the  prominent,  large  eyes.  The 
ears  are  white  and  free  from  wool,  and  are  thinner  and  longer  than 
the  Shropshire  ear.  The  Cheviot  shoulder  is  lighter  than  with 
lowland  breeds,  and  the  body  lacks  the  breadth  of  the  Shropshire 
and  Southdown.  The  skin  is  unusually  pink  and  rich  in  color. 
The  fleece  covers  the  body  and  extends  up  the  neck  to  behind 
the  ears,  forming  a  sort  of  collar,  and  covering  the  legs  to  knees 
and  hocks.  The  fleece  is  of  the  middle-wool,  combing  class,  is 
neither  fine  nor  coarse  of  staple,  and  averages  about  four  inches 
long.  Sometimes  the  wool  on  the  lower,  back  part  of  the  thigh 
is  long  and  tends  to  be  hairy,  a  very  objectionable  feature.  The 
head  and  ears  often  have  small  black  spots  which  are  no  disquali- 
fications of  purity.    Reddish  or  sandy  hair  also  occasionally  occurs 


THE  CHEVIOT 


417 


on  face  and  legs.  This  is  strongly  objected  to,  and  after  Janu- 
ary 1,  1905,  all  rams  possessing  reddish  hair,  or  well-defined  horns 
became  ineligible  for  registration.  Horns  occur  occasionally 
on  the  rams,  but  are  becoming  more  and  more  rare.  The  hoofs 
should  be  black.  The  temperament  of  the  Cheviot  is  a  striking 
characteristic.  He  carries  himself  with  an  uplift  of  head  and 
alertness  of  ear  and  general  style  very  distinctive  of  the  breed, 
and  one  of  its  greatest  charms. 

The  size  of  the  Cheviot  is  medium,  comparable  with  the  Shrop- 
shire for  weight.  Mature  rams  weigh  about  200  pounds,  with 
225  a  standard,  and  ewes  from  150  to  160  pounds.  But  few 
rams  exceed  225  pounds,  though  ewes  frequently  surpass  160 
pounds.  The  best  type  of  Cheviot  calls  for  a  compact,  heavy- 
weighing  sheep  of  much  quality. 

The  Cheviot  as  a  mutton  producer  stands  high.  In  England 
the  mutton  of  this  breed,  which  is  rarely  too  fat  and  which  has 
very  superior  quality,  ranks  in  the  first  class.  External  fat  is 
not  abundant,  but  there  is 
a  desirable  proportion  of 
lean  to  fat.  Professor 
Wallace  of  Scotland  states 
that  ewes  fed  on  turnips 
twelve  to  fourteen  weeks, 
and  wethers  from  the  hills 
at  three  years  weigh,  killed 
and  dressed,  60  to  70 
pounds.  Wethers  a  year 
younger,  fed  turnips, 
weigh  about  the  same. 

The  Cheviot  as  a  graz- 
ing sheep  is  unsurpassed. 
On  its  native  hills  it  sub- 
sists entirely  on  pasture, 
excepting  for  hay  which 

may  be  fed  during  excessive  snow  when  the  grass  is  covered. 
Ordinarily  the  Cheviots  paw  aside  the  thin  covering  of  snow 
on  the  hillsides  and  thus  secure  winter  grazing.  No  breed  is 
more  essentially  a  grazing  sheep. 


Fig.  194.  Victor  2532,  grand-champion  Cheviot 
ram  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition, 
1904.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  H.  H.  Keim, 
Ladoga,  Indiana.    Photograph  by  the  author 


4i8 


SHEEP 


The  Cheviot  as  a  wool  producer  is  only  fair.  The  fleeces  lack 
weight,  although  having  very  satisfactory  quality,  the  wool  bring- 
ing a  price  equal  to  any  of  the  medium  class.  Twenty-five 
Cheviot  breeders  give  the  average  weights  of  fleeces  in  their 
flocks  as  ranging  from  *j\  to  1 1  pounds  per  fleece  for  rams,  and 
6  to  9  pounds  for  ewes.  Wallace  states  that  a  good  average 
clip  for  ewes  is  \\  to  5  pounds  of  washed  wool.  Formerly 
Cheviot  fleeces  appeared  somewhat  open  and  long,  and  the  breed 
has  ignorantly  been  referred  to  by  some  as  a  long  wool,  whereas 
it  is  a  true  middle  wool.    In  American  flocks  the  fleece  is  being 

bred  to  be  more   com- 


SPI  h 


pact  and  heavier,  with  a 
length  averaging  as  near 
four  inches  as  possible. 
Cheviot  wool  is  valued 
by  buyers,  and  in  scour- 
ing tests  at  the  Michi- 
gan Experiment  Station 
the  wool  of  this  breed 
shrunk  less  than  that  of 
any  other. 

The  prolific  character 
of  the  Cheviot  is  above 
average.  The  author  has 
secured  figures  concern- 
ing 228  ewes  which  in 
one  season  dropped  353  lambs,  approaching  one  and  one  half 
lamb  per  ewe.  The  ewes  are  good  mothers  and  produce  as 
a  rule  ample  milk  for  the  lambs. 

The  hardiness  of  the  Cheviot  is  one  of  its  strong  characteristics. 
For  generations  raised  on  the  hills,  rarely  seeing  the  inside  of  a 
shed  or  barn,  summer  or  winter,  it  has  from  very  force  of  circum- 
stances developed  into  the  hardiest  of  the  middle-wool  breeds. 
The  lambs  are  vigorous  from  birth  and  seem  well  suited  to  severe 
conditions  of  environment.  On  their  native  hills  Cheviots,  as  a 
rule,  receive  no  grain  unless  they  be  rams  or  show  sheep. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Cheviot  has  much  merit  as  a  mutton 
producer.    The  use  of  Border  Leicester  or  Lincoln  rams  on  aged 


y  yr-  j- 


Fig.  195.  Cheviot  rams,  the  first-prize  pen  at  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show, 
1900.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  John  Elliott, 
Under  Hindhope,  Jedburgh,  Scotland.  Photo- 
graph by  the  author 


THE  CHEVIOT 


419 


Cheviot  ewes  has  been  practiced  for  a  great  many  years  in  the 
border  country,  such  half-breds  having  a  comparatively  high 
value.  Where  half-bred  ewes  are  bred  to  Leicester  or  Lincoln 
rams  they  are  termed  "  three-part-bred."  Oxford  Down  rams 
are  also  used  on  Cheviot  ewes  with  success.  Both  of  these 
crosses  produce  very  rapid-fattening  lambs,  giving  a  leaner  and 
better  quality  of  flesh,  dressing  out  16  to  18  pounds  to  the 
quarter  at  about  12  months  old.  Cheviot  rams  have  not  been 
used  extensively  in  crossing,  but,  when  used  on  Merino  grade 
ewes,  produce  an  easier- 
fattening  lamb  of  more 
salable  type. 

The  Cheviot  as  a  range 
sheep  is  of  peculiar  char- 
acter. This  breed  does 
not  flock  in  the  ordinary 
manner,  each  sheep  mov- 
ing about  independently, 
thus  scattering  to  a  con- 
siderable extent.  On  the 
Scotch  hillsides  one  sees 
no  evidence  of  flocking, 
such  as  the  Merino  ex- 
hibits. There  are  but  few 
of  these  sheep  on  the 
western  range,  but  if 
the  natural  hardiness  of 
the  Cheviot  could  be  combined  with  reasonable  restriction  of 
movement,  it  would  serve  a  valuable  purpose  to  the  ranchman. 

The  distribution  of  the  Cheviot  is  mainly  in  England,  Scotland, 
and  North  America.  In  a  considerable  territory  in  the  border 
country  in  Britain  there  are  many  large  flocks,  men  counting 
their  holdings  by  thousands,  this  being  the  one  breed  in  evidence 
on  these  hills.  Cheviots  are  chiefly  bred  in  Roxburgh,  Dumfries, 
Peebles,  and  Sutherland  counties,  Scotland,  and  in  Northumber- 
land County,  England.  They  are  also  bred  to  a  small  extent  in 
Ireland  and  have  been  exported  to  New  Zealand.  In  Canada  flocks 
exist  in  Quebec  and  several  other  provinces,  while  in  the  United 


Fig.  196.  A  Cheviot  ewe,  a  frequent  prize 
winner  in  1903.  OwTned  by  Fred  Hartman 
of  Indiana.    Photograph  by  the  author 


420 


SHEEP 


States  the  breed  has  been  pretty  well  distributed  from  Ten- 
nessee north,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  far  West.  There  are  many 
flocks  in  eastern  New  York  and  northern  Indiana,  with  excellent 
flocks  in  Ohio,  Illinois,  Vermont,  Tennessee,  Wisconsin,  and 
many  other  states. 

Cheviot  sheep  breeders'  organizations  exist  in  Britain  and  the 
United  States.  The  Cheviot  Sheep  Society  of  Great  Britain  was 
organized  in   1891,  Volume   I  of  the  flock  book  appearing  in 

1893,  there  having  been 
published  thirteen  volumes 
up  to  1904,  registering 
1665  rams,  ewes  not  being 
recorded.  In  1891  the 
American  Cheviot  Sheep 
Breeders'  Association  was 
organized  in  New  York 
State.  Owing  to  disaffec- 
tion among  the  members, 
in  1894  the  National 
Cheviot  Sheep  Society  was 
organized  in  Indiana.  In 
1 900  these  organizations 
amalgamated,  forming  the 
American  Cheviot  Sheep 
Society,  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  New  York.  Each  of  the 
old  associations  published  one  flock  book,  while  the  new  society 
in  1 90 1  published  another,  as  Volume  III. 

High  prices  for  Cheviot  sheep  have  been  paid  in  Scotland. 
Each  year  at  Hawick  annual  ram  sales  are  held  on  a  large  scale, 
thousands  of  sheep  being  sold  and  many  high  prices  paid,  with 
good  averages.  At  this  sale  in  1903  five  breeders  sold  rams  at 
prices  ranging  from  $150  to  $575  each.  At  a  sale  in  1865  at 
Beattock  165  Cheviot  rams  owned  by  Mr.  Oliver  of  Hawick 
brought  over  $12,000,  one  three-year-old  bringing  $775  and  a 
two-year-old  $605.  In  1902  Mr.  J.  R.  C.  Smith  of  Yetholm, 
Scotland,  purchased  the  ram  Ambush  (1545)  for  about  $600.  In 
the  United  States  no  such  high  prices  have  yet  prevailed,  $100 
being  about  a  maximum. 


Fig.  197.  A  Cheviot  yearling  ewe,  first  prize 
in  class  at  the  Edinburgh  Show,  Scotland, 
1904.  This  is  a  fine  example  of  Cheviot 
style  and  character.  Bred  and  exhibited  by 
J.  R.  C.  Smith,  Mowhaugh.  Photograph 
from  the  owner 


CHAPTER  LVI 

THE  SUFFOLK  DOWN 

The  native  home  of  Suffolk  sheep  was  in  southeastern  Eng- 
land, in  the  counties  of  Suffolk,  Norfolk,  Essex,  and  Kent,  on 
the  chalk  hills  and  undulating  clayey  lands. 

The  original  stock  of  the  Suffolk  Down  sheep  was  the  old 
Norfolk  and  Suffolk  heath  sheep.  These  had  a  long,  slender 
carcass,  says  Youatt,  long  legs,  horns,  and  a  black  face.  The 
fore  quarters  were  deficient,  the  shoulders  low,  and  the 
withers  sharp.  The  hind  quarters  were  fairly  well  developed. 
The  fleece  was  short  and  fine  and  weighed  light.  The  breed  was 
hardy  and  prolific.  These  sheep  were  crossed  with  Southdown 
and  Hampshire  rams,  although  English  Suffolk  Down  breeders 
assume  the  breed  to  have  been  maintained  fairly  pure  since 
1 8 io.  The  Southdown  blood  bred  off  the  horns,  improved  the 
form,  and  gave  a  better  carcass  and  earlier-maturing,  easier- 
fattened  sheep  than  the  Norfolk,  while  the  Hampshire  blood 
gave  size  and  weight.  Mr.  George  Dobito  of  Ludgate,  Suffolk, 
was  one  of  the  most  important  improvers  of  the  Suffolk  Down 
in  the  last  century.  The  breed  was  first  exhibited  under  this  name 
in  1859  at  tne  show  of  the  Suffolk  Agricultural  Association  and 
was  not  recognized  by  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  until  1886. 

The  introduction  of  the  Suffolk  Down  sheep  to  America  is 
very  recent.  In  1888  Mr.  M.  B.  Streeter  of  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
made  an  importation  of  prize-winning  stock,  and  the  same  year 
Mr.  B.  D.  Sewell  of  Frederickton,  New  Brunswick,  imported 
20  ewes.  In  1892  the  Iowa  Suffolk  Sheep  Society  imported 
2  rams  and  20  yearling  ewes  and  placed  them  on  the  farm  of 
G.  W.  Franklin,  the  secretary  of  the  society,  at  Atlantic,  Iowa. 
These  three  importations  were  from  the  flock  of  Joseph  Smith 
of  Hasketon,  Suffolk,  England,  and  contained  numerous  valu- 
able prize  winners. 

421 


422 


SHEEP 


Characteristics  of  Suffolk  Down  Sheep.  The  head  is  hornless 
and  is  a  distinct  black  color,  more  so  than  with  any  other  British 
breed,  and  inclines  to  be  long.  The  ears  are  also  black  and  tend 
to  be  large.  The  neck  is  moderately  long,  the  body  inclines  to 
be  rangy  but  with  well-sprung  rib,  the  chest  is  broad  and  full, 
and  the  legs  black  in  color.  The  fleece  is  moderately  short  and 
fine  and  covers  the  body  and  neck  to  head,  not  as  a  rule  passing 
over  the  forehead.    The  legs  are  wooled  to  knees  and  hocks. 


Fig.  198.  Playford  Model  (7731),  first-prize  Suffolk  ram  at  the  Royal  Agricul- 
tural Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Owned  by  S.  R.  Sherwood, 
Playford,  England.  Photograph  from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews, 
Berkhamsted,  England 


The  breed  rather  resembles  the  Hampshire  Down  but  for  the 
bareness  of  head.  The  Suffolk  is  said  to  be  very  hardy  and  is 
quite  exempt  from  foot  rot. 

The  size  of  the  Suffolk  Down  is  nearly  equal  to  the  Hampshire, 
and  is  greater  than  the  Shropshire.  It  is  stated  that  mature  rams 
of  Mr.  Sevvell  weighed  from  200  to  240  pounds,  while  one  of 
the  imported  yearling  ewes  of  Mr.  Streeter  weighed  200  pounds 
and  a  ram  lamb  nine  months  old  195  pounds.  The  average 
Suffolk  possesses  a  weight  popular  with  American  stockmen. 


THE  SUFFOLK  DOWN  423 

The  Suffolk  Down  as  a  mutton  sheep  has  high  rank,  evidently 
possessing  good  qualities  secured  from  Southdown  blood,  the 
fat  and  lean  being  well  placed  and  in  good  proportion,  and  the 
grain  and  flavor  superior. 

The  Suffolk  Down  as  a  feeder  also  ranks  well.  It  has  been 
kept  under  conditions  of  moderate  grain  ration  with  considerable 
grazing,  showing  fair  feeding  returns.  In  experiments  on  fatten- 
ing wether  lambs  at  the  Iowa  Experiment  Station  the  Suffolks 
gained  rather  faster  per  day  than  the  Shropshire  or  Southdown 
in  each  trial,  averaging  .55  pound  and  .40  pound  daily  gain  in 
two  trials.  They  dressed  out  in  carcass  53.6  and  52.54  per 
cent,  and  the  carcasses  were  valued  at  $4.25  and  $5.00  per  hun- 
dred, a  materially  poorer  showing,  however,  than  most  of  the 
other  breeds  made. 

The  Suffolk  Down  cross-bred  or  grade  is  comparatively  un- 
known in  North  America,  but  in  South  America  has  been  used 
on  Merino  grades  to  produce  good  mutton  sheep.  The  rams  on 
common  ewes  should  improve  the  mutton  value. 

The  Suffolk  Down  as  a  wool  producer  is  open  to  objection. 
Mr.  Street er,  in  a  letter  to  Ezra  Carman  in  1892,  says,  "  I  think 
these  sheep  have  just  one  fault,  —  they  are  not  heavy  shearers 
and  they  are  somewhat  leggy  and  bare  of  wool  underneath." 
Mr.  Sewell  reports  clipping  nine  pounds  per  fleece  on  the  aver- 
age, which  is  a  very  fair  showing. 

The  fecundity  of  Suffolk  Down  ewes  is  advocated  as  a  valu- 
able point  in  behalf  of  the  breed.  Twins  are  common  and  triplets 
not  uncommon.  In  the  spring  of  1891,  32  ewes  of  Mr.  Sewell 
raised  58  lambs,  while  the  same  year  5  imported  ewes  of  Mr. 
Streeter  produced  n  lambs,  and  the  same  ewes  14  in  1892. 
According  to  returns  made  to  the  Suffolk  Flock  Book  Society  of 
England,  the  number  of  lambs  reared  to  June  1,  1903,  was  140.66 
per  cent  per  100  ewes,  as  compared  with  136.16  in  1902  and 
an  average  of  132.97  per  cent  for  the  previous  sixteen  years.  It 
is  almost  unnecessary  to  say  that  the  ewes  make  good  nurses. 

The  distribution  of  Suffolk  Down  sheep  is  mainly  in  south- 
eastern England,  notably  in  Suffolk  and  Norfolk,  and  in  various 
other  counties.  In  1903  exports  from  England  were  made  to 
Germany,  France,  Spain,  Denmark,  South  Africa,  New  South 


424  SHEEP 

Wales,  South  Australia,  New  Zealand,  Canada,  and  Jamaica. 
The  breed  is  also  in  other  countries.  In  the  United  States 
Suffolks  have  almost  no  record,  barring  a  few  isolated  flocks. 
They  are  especially  suited  to  low  or  slightly  rolling  lands  of  good 
grazing  character.  In  the  United  States  breeders  of  Suffolk 
Downs  are  almost  unknown.  In  the  great  sheep  shows  of  the 
country  the  breed  is  practically  unrepresented.  Even  professional 
showmen  do  not  exhibit  Suffolks,  and  no  classes  are  provided  for 
them.  From  the  show-ring  point  of  view  they  are  quite  attractive 
and  would  add  materially  to  the  interest  attached  to  our  sheep 
exhibitions,  notably  at  state  fairs  and  the  International  Live 
Stock  Exposition. 

Organizations  for  promoting  Suffolk  Down  sheep  were  first 
established  in  1886,  when  the  Suffolk  Down  Sheep  Society 
organized,  publishing  its  first  flock  book  in  1887.  In  1892  the 
American  Suffolk  Flock  Registry  Association  was  organized, 
with  headquarters  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Up  to  1905  this  asso- 
ciation had  published  no  flock  book. 


CHAPTER    LVII 

THE   TUNIS 

The  native  home  of  the  Tunis  breed,  often  referred  to  as  Fat- 
Tailed  Sheep,  is  in  northern  Africa,  in  Tunis,  a  French  province 
of  some  45,000  square  miles  bordering  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 
Much  of  the  land  is  hilly,  some  of  it  bordering  the  desert  of 
Sahara,  the  climate  is  warm,  and  the  main  crops  produced  are  wheat 
and  barley.    This  breed  is  found  mainly  in  the  upland  region. 

The  origin  of  Tunis  sheep  is  unknown,  but  the  type  has  no 
doubt  existed  for  centuries  in  Tunis  and  the  associated  section 
of  northern  Africa  sometimes  termed  Barbary. 

The  introduction  of  Tunis  sheep  to  America  is  said  to  date 
back  to  1799,  when  the  Bey  of  Tunis,  at  his  request,  allowed 
General  William  Eaton,  then  United  States  consul  at  Tunis,  to 
ship  from  that  country  to  the  United  States  several  "  broad- 
tailed  Barbary  or  Mountain  Tunis  sheep,"  only  one  pair  of 
which  survived  the  voyage.  These  were  placed  in  the  hands  of 
Judge  Richard  Peters,  on  his  farm  near  Philadelphia,  where  they 
increased  in  number,  the  rams  being  used  on  native  American 
ewes  also.  The  original  ram  was  later  used  in  Lancaster  County, 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  farm  of  General  Hand.  It  was  soon  dis- 
covered that  they  produced  superior  mutton,  and  sheep  of  Tunis 
stock  came  into  demand.  In  1807  or  1808  Commodore  Barron 
of  the  United  States  Navy  imported  some  Tunis  sheep  to  Vir- 
ginia and  the  District  of  Columbia.  Later  President  Jefferson 
had  a  ram  and  ewe  brought  over  on  a  government  vessel,  and  in 
1825  some  thirteen  were  landed  at  New  York.  A  pair  of  these 
was  sent  to  General  Van  Rensselaer  of  Albany.  From  the  early 
stock,  descendants  of  the  Peters  breeding  it  is  claimed,  flocks 
were  established  in  South  Carolina  by  Colonel  Richard  Singleton 
and  in  Georgia  by  Richard  Peters.  These  sheep  increased  in 
number,  but  the  Civil  War  nearly  exterminated  them.    Most  of 

425 


426 


SHEEP 


the  importations  were  unsuccessful,  owing  to  the  apparent  phys- 
ical disability  of  the  ewes  to  breed  on  account  of  the  tail  inter- 
fering with  service.  A  few  sheep  of  this  breed  from  Columbia, 
South  Carolina,  were  shown  in  1893  at  the  World's  Columbian 
Exposition  at  Chicago,  following  which  Mr.  J.  A.  Guilliams  of 
Indiana  purchased  from  these,  and  later  Charles  Roundtree  of 
the  same  state  visited  South  Carolina,  purchasing  ten  of  the  flock 
of  twenty-five  head  there  owned.  Since  then  Mr.  Roundtree 
has  been  the  chief  promoter  of  this  breed. 

Characteristics  of  Tunis  sheep.    To  begin  with,  this  sheep,  even 
to-day,  is  not  well  fixed  in  type  and  breed  markings.    In  general 

the  head  is  hornless  with 
both  sexes,  and  covered 
with  hair  of  a  tawny  or 
yellow-brown  color,  the 
legs  also  being  of  much 
the  same  shade.  Some 
faces,  however,  are  solid 
color  of  brown  and  others 
are  mottled  brown  and 
white.  The  ears  are  large, 
broad,  pendulous,  covered 
with  fine  hair,  and  are 
brown, white,  or  brown  and 
white.  The  tail  is  broad, 
perhaps  measuring  five 
inches  at  maturity,  is  thick 
and  moderately  long, 
though  the  fleshy  part  is  carried  down  only  six  or  eight  inches  at 
maturity.  This  tail  is  usually  cut  off  when  the  lamb  is  very 
young,  and  so  does  not  appear  as  an  important  feature  in  the 
sheep.  Left  on,  it  becomes  difficult  to  breed  the  ewes.  At  the 
end  of  the  rump  at  the  tail  head  there  is  more  fullness  and  heavi- 
ness than  exists  with  other  docked  sheep,  to  a  notable  degree. 
The  neck  tends  to  be  long,  the  body  of  recognized  mutton  form, 
though  inclined  to  be  leggy.  The  fleece  is  of  excellent  quality, 
being  soft,  fine,  and  fairly  compact,  covering  the  body  excepting 
the  head  from  forehead  down,  and  averages  about  three  inches 


Fig.  199.  A  Tunis  ewe  shown  at  the  Louisi- 
ana Purchase  Exposition,  1904,  by  Charles 
Roundtree  of  Indiana,  who  is  holding  the 
sheep.    Photograph  by  the  author 


THE  TUNIS 


427 


long,  but  varies  notably  in  color.  One  animal  may  have  a  clear 
white  fleece,  another  a  prevailing  reddish  tint,  while  in  another 
reddish  fibers  may  be  generally  interspersed  among  the  white. 
The  young  lambs  when  dropped  are  of  various  colors,  —  white, 
red,  tawny,  and  mottled,  but  this  generally  changes  to  a  uniform 
color  with  maturity.  Aside  from  conformation  of  head,  ear,  and 
tail,  the  Tunis  breed  shows  more  variation  than  any  other  on 
the  American  market.  In  temperament  they  appear  mild  and 
easy  to  handle. 

The  size  of  Tunis  sheep  varies  considerably,  but  rams  are 
expected  to  weigh  150  pounds  or  more  and  ewes  120  pounds 
and  upward,  according  to  the  standard  of  the  Tunis  Association. 

The  Tunis  as  a  mutton  sheep  has  met  with  much  favor.  Early 
writers  bear  evidence  of  a  high  regard  for  the  breed  or  its  crosses 
for  mutton  in  the  markets  of  Philadelphia  and  vicinity.  The 
claim  has  been  made  by  the  few  promoters  of  the  breed  that 
on  grass  alone  they  will  make  excellent  and  fat  mutton.  In 
August,  1900,  four  grass-fed  ewes,  four  years  old,  sold  by 
Charles  Roundtree,  had  a  gross  weight  in  the  Union  Stock 
Yards  of  470  pounds.  They  dressed  to  average  about  16  pounds 
for  the  hind  quarter  and  17^  pounds  for  the  fore  quarter,  and 
dressed  out  56  per  cent,  an  exceptionally  good  showing.  The 
writer  has  examined  Tunis  lambs  in  October,  said  to  have  had 
no  food  but  grass,  which  were  in  splendid  flesh  for  killing.  On 
various  occasions  Tunis  grade  lambs  fed  by  Charles  Roundtree 
have  topped  the  Chicago  market  the  day  of  sale,  and  have 
received  much  favorable  stock-yards  comment.  On  August  11, 
1900,  two  lambs  150  days  old  weighed  200  pounds  gross  and 
dressed  57.6  per  cent. 

Cross-bred  or  grade  Tunis  sheep,  sired  by  Tunis  rams,  are 
regarded  as  superior  mutton  sheep  in  the  market,  possessing  the 
easy-fattening  characteristics  of  the  pure-bred. 

The  Tunis  for  early  lambs  has  special  qualifications.  The 
pure-bred  or  cross-bred  ewe  will  breed  at  various  seasons  of  the 
year,  and  may  be  mated  in  spring  to  drop  lambs  in  the  fall  for 
the  Christmas  market.  The  lambs  fatten  rapidly,  and  if  with 
dark  faces  are  well  suited  to  the  eastern  market  demand.  Doubt- 
less their  use  for  early  lambs  will  materially  increase. 


428  SHEEP 

The  Tunis  sheep  as  a  wool  producer  has  merit,  yet  the  vari- 
able color  of  the  fleece  is  objectionable.  Tunis  breeders  claim 
that  they  shear  from  6  to  1 2  pounds,  and  Professor  Shaw  credits 
them  with  *]\  pounds  wool.  In  an  address  before  the  Philadel- 
phia Society  for  Promoting  Agriculture,  in  18 10,  Judge  Peters 
gave  the  average  weight  of  the  washed  fleece  at  5  to  5  \  pounds, 
some  flocks  averaging  6,  with  individuals  of  pure  blood  yield- 
ing as  high  as  10  pounds,  and  it  is  questionable  if  the  breed 
has  changed  much  in  wool  production  since.  The  staple  is  of 
good  quality  and  is  comparable  in  fineness  with  the  standard 
combing  wools. 

The  fecundity  of  the  Tunis  sheep  ranks  high.  Twins  are  fre- 
quent, and  as  the  ewes  will  breed  twice  a  year  if  desired,  the  flock 
may  be  rapidly  increased  if  physical  conditions  do  not  interfere. 

The  distribution  of  Tunis  sheep  is  widespread,  yet  but  few 
flocks  of  importance  exist,  the  larger  ones  being  in  Indiana  and 
Ohio.  Flocks  have  also  been  established  in  South  Africa  and 
Australia,  and  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States.  The  breed 
is  well  suited  to  warm  latitudes,  where  it  seems  to  thrive.  It  is 
also  claimed  that  it  will  do  well  on  low  ground  of  marshy  tendency. 

The  American  Tunis  Sheep  Breeders'  Association  was  organized 
in  Indiana  in  1 896  for  maintaining  a  flock  book  and  promoting 
the  breed,  but  up  to  1905  no  flock  book  had  been  published. 
The  first  rule  of  the  standard  adopted  by  the  association  allows 
twenty  points  for  pedigrees  extending  back  unbroken  to  Judge 
Richard  Peters's  stock  or  to  direct  recent  importations  from  Tunis. 


CHAPTER  LVIII 

THE    LEICESTER1 

The  native  home  of  the  Leicester  breed  of  sheep  is  in  the 

county  of  Leicester  in  central  England.  Here  the  land  is  gently 
rolling,  the  soil  clayey  and  fertile,  and  grass,  small  grains,  and 
roots  grow  abundantly.  The  climate  is  moist  much  of  the  year 
and  fairly  temperate,  even  in  winter. 

The  origin  of  the  Leicester  as  a  breed  is  obscure,  further  than 
that  a  long-wooled,  large,  coarse,  narrow-backed,  slow-feeding, 
leggy  type  had  been  bred  in  the  county  of  Leicester  from  time 
immemorial.    This  was  the  old  Leicester  sort. 

The  first  improvement  of  the  Leicester  began  with  Robert 
Bake  well,  who  lived  at  Dishley  Hall,  near  Loughborough,  in 
Leicestershire.  Bakewell  was  born  in  1726  and  began  to  experi- 
ment with  and  improve  the  sheep  of  his  county  just  prior  to 
1760.  He  purchased  the  best  specimens  of  the  breed  to  be 
obtained  in  the  community,  practiced  rigorous  selection,  did 
much  in-and-in  breeding,  and  finally  produced  a  remarkable  im- 
provement, so  that  sheep  of  his  breeding  became  known  as 
Dishley  or  Bakewell  sheep.  He  converted  the  Leicester  into  a 
broad-backed,  thick-fleshed,  easy-feeding,  early-maturing  breed, 
with  small  bones  and  much  less  offal  than  in  the  old  sort.  Bake- 
well  had  a  collection  of  bones  and  meat  in  pickle,  which  repre- 
sented selections  from  time  to  time  from  animals  of  his  own 
breeding,  by  which  he  studied  the  improvement  made.  Marshall, 
who  lived  in  Bakewell's  time,  stated  that  he  kept  four  points  in 
view,  —  (1)  breed,  (2)  utility  of  form,  (3)  quality  of  flesh,  and  (4) 
propensity  to  fatten,  the  three  latter  depending  on  the  first. 
Bakewell  attained  such  fame  in  improving  these  sheep,  as  well 
as  Longhorn  cattle  and  other  stock,  that  he  was  often  termed 
the  father  of  improved  live-stock  husbandry.    People  visited  him 

1  The  word  "  Leicester"  is  pronounced  as  though  spelled  "  Lester." 

429 


430  SHEEP 

from  various  parts  of  England  and  Europe,  and  paid  him  large 
sums  for  the  hire  of  his  rams,  he  being  the  first  person  to  estab- 
lish this  custom.  An  item  in  the  Annals  of  Agriculture  in  1787 
reports  him  letting  three  rams  for  1200  guineas  ($6000),  and 
that  he  had  been  offered  1000  guineas  for  twenty  ewes  and 
refused  it.  Bakewell  died  in  1795.  The  Leicester  as  improved 
by  him  retains  to-day  many  of  the  original  characteristics, 
though  it   may  be   somewhat   smaller  and   more  refined.    His 


Fig.  200.  A  Leicester  yearling  ram,  first  prize  in  class  at  the  Royal  Agricul- 
tural Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Exhibited  by  E.  F.  Jordan. 
Photograph  from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berkhamsted,  England 

method  of  close  breeding  eventually  reduced  the  fecundity,  vigor, 
milking  capacity  of  the  ewes,  and  weight  of  wool.  Breeders  since 
his  day  have  continued  the  practice  of  selection,  and  early  in 
the  last  century  practiced  much  in-and-in  breeding. 

The  introduction  of  Leicester  sheep  to  America  occurred  early 
in  the  history  of  the  United  States.  Previous  to  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  some  of  the  so-called  Dishley  or  Bakewell  sheep 
were  brought,  most  of  them  smuggled,  into  the  colonies,  espe- 
cially New  Jersey  and  Virginia.  As  early  as  1800  the  New 
Leicester  was  known  about   Philadelphia,  though  not  of  pure 


THE  LEICESTER 


431 


breeding.  About  1799  or  1800  the  first  pure-breds  brought 
to  America  were  imported  to  Quebec,  Canada,  by  Reverend 
Mr.  Toofy.  In  1806  John  Hart  of  Cheshire,  Massachusetts, 
secured  a  ram,  and  about  1805  or  J8o6  Captain  Beanes  of  New 
Jersey  brought  some  pure-bred  rams  and  ewes  from  England 
and  disposed  of  them  to  a  retired  ship  captain,  George  Farmer, 
living  near  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  These  Beanes  Leices- 
ter were  carefully  and  successfully  bred  and  attained  a  wide 
reputation,  Captain  Farmer  selling  some  rams  for  as  much  as 
$1000  per  head.  From  New  Jersey  and  other  states  came  a 
large  demand  for  sheep 
from  the  Farmer  flock. 
Miles  Smith,  a  neighbor 
of  Farmer,  and  Joseph 
Cooper  of  Flemington, 
New  Jersey,  also  became 
prominent  breeders.  The 
craze  for  Merino  sheep, 
however,  was  on  in 
America,  and  by  18 18, 
when  Farmer  died,  there 
were  no  pure  Leicesters 
on  his  or  Smith's  farms. 
During  the  War  of  1812 
Christopher  Dunn  estab- 
lished the  first  pure-bred 
flock  of  this  breed  in  New  York,  near  Albany,  they  being  stock 
destined  for  Canada,  but  captured  by  an  American  privateer. 
There  were  importations  to  New  York  in  1826  by  J.  S.  Skinner,  in 
183 1  by  D.  Stockdale,  and  in  1835  by  John  Baker.  The  first 
Leicesters  which  found  their  way  to  Ohio  were  brought  here  in 
1834  by  Isaac  Maynard  of  Coshocton  County,  who  also  brought 
other  breeds  for  trial.  Henry  Parsons  of  Massillon  in  1840  had  .a 
large  flock  of  breeding  ewes. 

There  are  two  types  of  Leicester  sheep,  the  Bakewell  or  true 
Leicester  and  the  Border  Leicester. 

The  Bakewell  type  of  Leicester  in  general  appearance  is  white 
in  color,  large,  long-wooled,  very  wide  of  back,  and  tends  to  be  long 


Fig.  201.  A  Border  Leicester  ram  owned  by 
Alexander  Cross,  Knockdon,  Kilmarnock, 
Scotland.    Photograph  by  the  author 


432  SHEEP 

of  leg.  The  head  from  the  ears  forward  is  covered  with  a  soft 
white  hair,  the  skin  having  a  slight  bluish  tint  and  small  black 
spots  often  occurring  on  head  and  ears.  The  face  is  of  medium 
length,  the  nose  is  frequently  Roman  in  form,  with  black  skin 
at  muzzle,  and  the  ears  are  thin,  somewhat  large,  and  delicate, 
standing  more  or  less  erect.  Neither  rams  nor  ewes  have  horns. 
The  neck  tends  to  be  short  and  is  not  much  elevated  in  carriage. 
The  body  is  very  wide  of  rib  but  often  lacks  in  depth,  the  pro- 
portion of  breadth  to  depth  being  striking.  The  breast  is  usu- 
ally quite  prominent,  both  in  extension  and  thickness,  and  the 
hind  quarters  frequently  are  not  so  large  as  they  should  be, 
being  peaked.  The  legs  tend  to  be  long  and  fine  of  bone.  The 
temperament  is  quiet  and  gentle,  such  as  might  be  expected  with 
the  large  breeds.  The  fleece  is  excellent  for  coarse  wool,  medium 
long,  and  usually  lies  over  the  body  in  fine  spiral  locks.  Usually 
no  wool  extends  beyond  the  ears,  and  the  legs  are  not  commonly 
wooled  below  knee  and  hock. 

The  size  of  the  Leicester  is  large,  though  this  is  the  smallest 
of  the  long-wooled  breeds.  Average-sized  mature  rams  weigh 
from  225  to  250  pounds  and  the  ewes  from  175  to  200  pounds. 

The  pure-bred  Leicesters  as  mutton  producers  do  not  rank 
high.  When  mature  they  are  too  large  for  common  market 
demands,  and  unless  killed  before  twelve  months  of  age  produce 
too  fat  a  mutton.  Neither  is  the  quality  quite  equal  to  the  best 
standard.  Wrightson  states  that  the  Leicester  is  best  fattened 
when  from  twelve  to  fifteen  months  old,  when  the  carcass  weighs 
about  eighty  to  one  hundred  pounds.  At  three  of  the  American 
Fat  Stock  Shows  held  at  Chicago  the  following  figures  were 
secured,  showing  the  best  records  made  by  Leicester  fat  wethers. 

Age  969  days,  weight  300  pounds,  average  gain  per  day  from  birth  .3 1  pound 
"    600     "  "       295       "  "  "      "      "       "        "      .49  pound 

"    235     "  "        178       "  "  "      "      "       "        "      .75  pound 

In  feeding  experiments  at  the  Ontario  Agricultural  College  the 
better  Leicester  high-grade,  fat,  shorn  yearlings  weighed  242 
pounds  and  made  an  average  daily  gain  of  .54  pound. 

Cross-bred  or  grade  Leicesters  are  regarded  with  favor  by  some 
superior  sheep  feeders.  A  compact,  easy-feeding  Leicester  ram, 
used  on  ewes  of  Merino  character,  will  sire  sheep  of  more  scale 


THE  LEICESTER 


433 


and  easier  fattening  quality  than  where  Merino  rams  are  used. 
In  France  a  type  of  Leicesters  termed  DisJilcy  Merinos  has 
been  developed  by  using  Leicester  rams  on  a  Merino  ewe  foun- 
dation, these  sheep  now  showing  little  of  Merino  character. 
Robert  Taylor  of  Nebraska  has  used  Leicester  rams  on  middle- 
wool  ewes  on  the  western  range  with  signal  success.  In  both 
1903  and  1904  Mr.  Taylor  won  the  grand  championship  at  the 
International  Live  Stock  Exposition  on  car-load  show  of  lambs, 
these  being  a  cross  of  Leicester  rams  on  grade  Hampshire  ewes. 
In  fact,  it  is  conceded  that 
cross-bred  Leicester  mutton  is 
produced  more  economically, 
matures  earlier,  and  is  of  bet- 
ter quality  than  the  pure-bred, 
although  the  size  is  somewhat 
lessened.  In  this  connection 
it  is  interesting  to  note  that 
the  Leicester  as  improved  by 
Bakewell  has  served  a  most 
important  part  in  improving 
some  of  the  British  breeds  in 
the  days  of  early  development, 
its  blood  being  freely  used  on 
the  Southdown,  Cotswold, 
Lincoln,  Shropshire,  and 
Hampshire  foundations. 

The  Leicester  as  a  wool  producer  yields  a  fine  grade  of  long 
wool.  Randall  states  that  after  the  first  shearing  it  will  average 
about  6  inches  long  and  will  weigh  6  pounds.  Professor  Shaw 
states  that  the  fleece  should  average  from  9  to  1 1  pounds 
weight,  while  the  1894  edition  of  the  Complete  Grazier,  by  Youatt, 
places  it  at  an  average  of  7  pounds.  George  Benedict  of 
Nebraska,  a  breeder  of  pure  Leicesters,  in  1893  wrote,  "The 
average  weight  of  fleeces  for  ten  years  is  n  pounds."  The 
fleece  of  the  Leicester  being  naturally  fine  and  open  weighs 
comparatively  light.  If  grade  Leicester  ewes  are  bred  to  middle- 
or  fine-wool  rams,  the  fleece  of  the  offspring  is  commonly  finer, 
more  compact,  and  shears  heavier  than  that  of  the  pure-bred. 


Fig.  202.  A  very  choice  Border  Leicester 
ram  bred  by  Mr.  Smith  of  Leaston, 
Scotland.  Sold  in  1901  for  £\zz 
($600).  Photograph  from  the  owner, 
J.  R.  C.  Smith 


434 


SHEEP 


The  breeding  qualities  of  the  Leicester  are  only  moderate. 
None  of  the  largest  breeds  are  strongly  prolific,  and  no  doubt 
the  early  policy  of  very  close  in-and-in  breeding  followed  by 
Leicester  breeders  injured  the  fecundity  of  the  breed.     Careful 

management  will  no  doubt 
secure  fair  results.  Mr. 
Benedict,  above  referred 
to,  reports  136  per  cent 
increase  in  his  Leicester 
flock. 

The  Leicester  as  a  graz- 
ing or  range  sheep  ranks 
as  only  fair.  Leicesters 
will  not  flock  equal  to  the 
Merinos.  They  require 
better  range  and  more 
abundant  pasture,  are  not 
suited  to  rough  ground, 
and  in  winter  lack  the 
constitution  to  withstand 
roughing  it  without  shel- 
ter. The  open  fleece  is 
objectionable  where  much 
snow  or  cold  rain  prevails. 


Fig.  203.  Grand-champion  Leicester  ewe  (Bor- 
der Leicester)  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
Exposition,  1904.  Owned  and  exhibited  by 
A.  W.  Smith,  Maple  Lodge,  Ontario.  Photo- 
graph by  the  author 


In  the  so-called  corn  belt,  where  properly  protected,  with  abun- 
dance of  roughage,  grain,  and  roots,  this  breed  may  do  very  well. 

The  popularity  of  the  Leicester  in  America  to-day  is  quite 
secondary,  although  in  the  middle  of  the  last  century  it  was 
looked  on  with  favor  in  the  eastern  states.  Very  few  are  now 
owned  in  the  United  States,  notwithstanding  the  extended  his- 
tory of  the  breed  here.  A  few  are  kept  for  show  purposes  and 
some  for  cross-breeding,  but  this  large  type  does  not  suit  the 
modern  demand  for  a  hardy,  smaller  class  of  quick-feeding  sheep, 
not  too  fat  when  finished.  More  Leicesters  are  fed  in  Canada 
than  elsewhere  in  America. 

The  distribution  of  the  Leicester  is  wide.  Since  the  days  of 
Bakewell  it  has  been  more  or  less  distributed  over  Europe,  Aus- 
tralia, New  Zealand,  Tasmania,  and  North  America.    It  is  not  a 


THE  LEICESTER 


435 


common  breed  to-day,  however,  in  any  part  of  the  world,  even  in 
England,  its  native  home.  There  are  small  flocks  kept  in  each 
of  the  Canadian  provinces,  but  more  in  Ontario  than  elsewhere. 
In  the  United  States  the  breed  is  mainly  represented  in  Michigan, 
Pennsylvania,  Oregon,  Nebraska,  Iowa,  and  Illinois. 

Organizations  in  behalf  of  Leicester  sheep  date  back  consider- 
ably over  a  century.  In  the  time  of  Bakewell  the  Dishley  Society 
was  organized  to  support  this  great  breeder  in  establishing  a 
new  breed.  This  society  had  various  meetings  and  adopted  dif- 
ferent resolutions.  No.  4,  passed  in  1790,  provided  that  "  secrecy 
be  kept  by  all  members  respecting  the  business  of  these  meet- 
ings, except  to  absent  members."  Resolution  No.  13  provided 
that  "  no  member  shall  let  a  ram,  share  or  part  of  a  ram,  to  any 
ram  breeder  residing  within  thirty  miles  of  Leicester,  not  being 
a  member,  who  hired  a  ram  of  Mr.  Bakewell  last  season,  1789." 
This  society  existed  many  years  and  was  very  influential.  At 
the  present  time  there  is  a  Leicester  Sheep  Breeders'  Society 
in  England.     In  this  country  we  have  the  American  Leicester 


Fig.  204.    A  group  of  Border  Leicester  yearling  rams  owned  by 
J.  R.  C.  Smith,  Scotland.    Photograph  from  the  owner 

Breeders'  Association,  established  in  1888,  which  has  issued  four 
volumes  of  flock  books  up  to  1904,  registering  about  7000  head. 
The  Border  Leicester  breed  of  sheep  belongs  to  the  Leicester 
family,  but  differs  from  it  somewhat  in  type.  The  origin  of 
the  Border  Leicester  has  been  credited  to  the  Culley  brothers, 
who  first  used  Leicester  rams  (obtained  from  Bakewell)  on  Tees- 
water  ewes.    Some  authors  have  regarded  the  Border  Leicester 


436 


SHEEP 


as  originating  from  a  cross  of  Leicester  rams  on  Cheviot  ewes, 
the  result  of  the  cross  finally  assuming  a  pure  form  of  a  variety 
of  the  Leicester.  In  1767  the  Culleys  moved  into  northern 
Northumberland  county,  England,  to  Fenton,  near  Wooler, 
among  the  Cheviot  Hills  in  the  border  country  between  England 
and  Scotland.  In  this  region  they  developed  the  Border  Leices- 
ter, which  became  very  popular.  In  1806  they  retired  and  their 
flock  was  dispersed,  being  purchased  by  various  breeders.  There 
are  to-day  flocks  in  the  border  region  directly  descended  from 
Culley  rams.  The  Mertoun  flock  of  Lord  Polwarth,  said  to 
have  been  established  in  1802,  has  long  been  and  is  to-day 
perhaps  the  most  famous  in  Britain. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Border  Leicester  sheep  in  compari- 
son with  the  Bakewell  Leicester  are  interestingly  shown  by 
Professor  Wrightson  as  follows  : 

The  differences  between  the  Leicester  and  Border  Leicester  are  to  be 
chiefly  seen  in  the  head,  which  in  the  Border  Leicester  is  white  and 
boldly  carried,  the  nose  slightly  aquiline,  the  muzzle  full,  the  nostrils 
wide,  and  the  ears  erect.  The  head  is  clean  and  free  from  wool,  as  is 
pretty  well  shown  by  the  fact  that  they  suffer  from  flies  settling  on  their 
polls  in  summer.  The  English  Leicester,  unless  trimmed  and  shaved  for 
show,  usually  carries  a  tuft  of  wool  on  his  head,  which  protects  it  from 
flies,  and  he  is  also  wooled  in  the  shanks.  The  English  Leicester  has  a 
bluish-white  face,  whereas  the  Border  Leicester's  face  is  clear  white.  In 
carcass  the  Border  Leicester  is  the  larger  and  longer,  and  the  belly  is  not 
quite  so  full  in  outline,  being  carried  rather  more  lightly. 

It  may  also  be  added  that  the  flesh  at  the  nose  is  black,  that  black 
spots  frequently  occur  in  the  white  hair  on  head  and  ear,  and  that 
this  is  a  heavier,  more  leggy  type  than  the  Bakewell  Leicester. 

Border  Leicester  rams  crossed  on  Cheviot  ewes  make  a  cross 
which  has  long  met  with  much  favor  in  the  British  market.  In 
the  hill  country  the  half-breds  and  three-quarter-breds  feed 
extremely  well  on  rather  scant  fare  oftentimes,  and  produce  a 
strictly  choice  mutton.  Each  year  in  the  hill  country  between 
Scotland  and  England  large  numbers  of  cross-bred  sheep  of  this 
stock  find  their  way  into  the  best  British  trade. 

The  Society  of  Border  Leicester  Sheep  Breeders  has  an  organ- 
ization in  Britain,  but  in  America  the  Border  type  is  registered 
in  the  American  Leicester  flock  book. 


CHAPTER  LIX 

THE  COTSWOLD 

The  name  Cotswold  is  derived  from  a  combination  of  circum- 
stances. In  early  times  sheep  were  folded  in  shelters  locally 
known  as  "cots"  or  "cotes,"  and  were  pastured  on  the  wild, 
treeless  hills  of  the  region,  which  were  termed  "wolds,"  from 
which  the  name  Cotswold  was  evolved. 

The  native  home  of  the  Cotswold  sheep  is  in  central  south- 
western England,  in  the  county  of  Gloucester,  which  touches 
salt  water  on  its  lower  side  leading  up  from  the  Irish  sea.  The 
Cotswold  hills  extend  southwesterly  nearly  through  and  to  the 
southern  borders  of  the  county.  These  hills  are  of  variable  soils, 
often  poor  in  quality,  gravelly  or  clayey  in  character  with  much 
lime,  grow  a  short  pasturage,  and  yield  moderate  crops  of  wheat 
and  roots.  The  climate  is  moist  and  temperate,  well  suited  to 
large  sheep,  especially  on  the  lowlands. 

The  Cotswold  is  of  ancient  lineage.  In  1464  King  Edward  IV 
of  England,  says  Stowe  in  his  Chronicles,  granted  permission 
"for  certain  Cotes  wold  sheep  to  be  transported  into  the  country 
of  Spaine,  which  have  there  since  mightily  increased  and  multi- 
plied to  the  Spanish  profit."  In  1842  Low  wrote  that  Cotswold 
sheep  inhabited  the  district  beyond  the  memory  of  the  living 
generation.  However  he  believed  that  this  breed  was  developed 
from  a  large  type  common  in  Warwick  and  Oxford  counties 
adjoining,  which  it  in  some  respects  resembled.  It  is  improbable 
that  the  Cotswold  has  a  long  ancestry  on  the  hills  of  Gloucester, 
for  a  big  breed  of  this  type  would  not  naturally  thrive  on  hills 
comparatively  poor  in  production.  Yet  the  region  in  which  this 
sheep  developed  became  a  noted  wool-producing  section,  dating 
back  to  days  of  Roman  conquest  in  the  second  century.  Gervase 
Markham,  writing  in  the  sixteenth  century,  referred  to  Cotswold 
sheep  as  having  long  wool  and  large  bones.     It   is  generally 

437 


438  SHEEP 

conceded  that  the  breed  of  to-day  is  much  improved  over  the 
old  type,  this  improvement  having  been  largely  secured  by  using 
Leicester  rams  on  Cotswold  ewes.  So  indiscriminately  were 
they  used  between  1780  and  1820  that  we  are  told  not  a  Cots- 
wold flock  was  spared.  The  Leicester  blood  reduced  the  size 
and  constitution,  but  improved  the  symmetry,  producing  better 
bodies,  finer  wool,  more  quality,  and  earlier-maturing  sheep. 
During  the  last  century  the  families  of  Smith  of  Bibury,  Hewer 


Fig.  205.  Houlton's  945  —  39250,  an  imported  Cotswold  yearling  ram,  owned 
by  the  Ohio  State  University.  This  ram  is  in  thin  flesh  with  about  five 
months  of  fleece.    Photograph  by  the  author 

of  North  Leach,  Lane,  and  Game  materially  improved  the  breed 
by  judicious  selection  and  some  in-and-in  breeding.  On  the  dis- 
persion of  the  Hewer  flock  various  breeders  purchased  and 
established  flocks  which  are  numbered  among  the  important 
ones  of  to-day  in  England. 

The  introduction  of  Cotswold  sheep  to  the  United  States 
probably  first  occurred  in  1832,  when  Mr.  C.  Dunn,  who  lived 
near  Albany,  New  York,  imported  a  ram.  In  1834  Isaac  May- 
nard  of  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  brought  the  first  Cotswolds 


THE  COTSWOLD 


439 


to  that  state,  but  within  three  years  most  of  these  had  died.    In 
1840  W.  H.  Sotham  imported  a  flock  of  19  to  New  York,  near 
Albany,  for  which  he  paid  $110  each.    This  same  year  Erastus 
Corning  and  Mr.  Sotham  made  two  large  importations  of  a  cross- 
bred   Cotswold-New  Leicester    sheep    from    the    Hewer    flock 
at  North  Leach,  Gloucestershire.     In  1836  J.  C.   Haviland  of 
Duchess   County,   New  York,  began  breeding  Cotswolds,  and 
continued  his  flock  many  years.    In  1837  they  were  first  brought 
to    Kentucky,  where  they  were   popular  for  many  years  and 
seemed  well  suited  to  the 
conditions  there.    Along 
in  the  early  forties  there 
were  a  number  of  flocks 
of  Cotswolds  in  the  Atlan- 
tic coast  states,  where  they 
met  with  some  favor,  if  on 
the  more  fertile  lands. 
With  the  depreciation  of 
Merino  values  about 
1 870-1875  Cotswold  and 
other  mutton  sheep  grew 
in  favor  and  considerable 
flocks    developed    in    the 
Mississippi  Valley  states. 
Characteristics  of  the 
Cotswold.  The  Jieadoi  the 
Cotswold  is  a  distinguish- 
ing feature,  being  horn- 
less, usually  white,  but  frequently  slightly  mixed  or  spotted  with 
gray  or  brown,  is  dark  at  the  nostrils,  broad  between  muzzle  and 
eyes,  having  a  tendency  to  a  Roman  nose,  and  with  curls  or  locks 
over  the  forehead,  often  extending  to  the  nostrils.    This  forelock 
is  rather  a  distinctive  feature  of  this  breed.    The  back  carries  the 
same  great  breadth  as  the  Leicester  and  Lincoln,  though  the  body 
often  lacks  depth  and  appears  leggy,  especially  behind.    The  heart 
girth  is  often  striking,  showing  much  thickness.     Fream  states 
that  at  a  show  some  years  ago  in  England  two  of  the  winning 
two-year-old  rams  girthed  five  feet  and  five  feet   four  inches 


Fig.  206.  A  very  choice  Cotswold  ewe,  winner 
of  first  prize  in  class  at  the  Ohio  State  Fair 
in  1905  and  sweepstakes  Cotswold  ewe  at  the 
Illinois  State  Fair,  1906.  Owned  by  Wilson 
Bros,  of  Indiana.    Photograph  by  the  author 


440  SHEEP 

respectively.  Th.t  fleece  covers  the  body  in  rather  large  locks  or 
curls,  very  similar  to  the  Lincoln,  naturally  parting  along  the  back 
and  hanging  down  the  sides  to  considerable  length.  The  legs  have 
much  the  same  color  marking  as  the  head.  In  quality  this  breed 
ranks  well,  and  vs\  general  appearance  has  a  carriage  which  Cotswold 
men  regard  as  distinguished.    Professor  Wrightson  states  that 

the  Cotswold  was  often  described  by  the  late  Professor  Coleman  when  teach- 
ing at  the  Royal  Agricultural  College  [which  is  in  the  Cotswold  district  of 
England],  as  a  sheep  which  could  "look  over  a  hurdle,"  that  is,  carried  his 
head  high  and  well  poised  on  a  somewhat  erect  neck.  This  is  said  to  be 
accompanied  with  a  tendency  to  be  "  ewe  necked  "  and  low  in  the  rumps,  or 
"  down  at  both  ends,"  as  I  have  heard  Professor  Coleman  repeatedly  say. 
He  knew  the  Cotswold  sheep  well,  and  was  himself  a  Cotswold  man,  so  his 
opinion  carries  weight.  These  faults  have  been  corrected  in  the  best  flocks 
there  can  be  no  doubt,  but  they  exist  in  second-rate  animals,  as  is  most 
evident  in  rough  weather,  when  the  animals  are  viewed  at  a  disadvantage. 

In  carriage  the  Cotswold  is  a  sheep  of  dignified  appearance,  with 
considerable  alertness  of  expression. 

The  size  of  the  Cotswold  is  large,  ranking  very  close  to  the 
Lincoln  and  often  equaling  it.  A  mature  Cotswold  ram  in 
moderate  flesh  should  weigh  from  250  to  275  pounds,  and  the 
ewe  from  200  to  225  pounds.  Select  show  animals  often  weigh 
much  more. 

The  Cotswold  as  a  mutton  sheep  is  rather  ordinary.  The 
quality  of  the  mutton  is  inferior  in  sheep  two  years  old  or  over, 
the  fiber  lacking  fineness  and  the  percentage  of  external  fat  too 
great  on  well-fed  animals.  The  Cotswold  is  most  desirable  for 
the  table  up  to  twelve  months  of  age,  producing  a  very  good 
grade  of  lamb. 

The  Cotswold  as  a  feeder  ranks  well.  In  various  feeding  experi- 
ments the  wethers  have  made  heavy  gains.  In  1852  Sir  John 
B.  Lawes  reported  on  important  sheep-feeding  experiments  at 
Rothamsted,  in  which  he  showed  that  forty-six  Cotswold  lambs 
made  a  total  gain  of  2928 %  pounds  between  December  1  and 
April  17,  a  weekly  increase  per  head  of  3  pounds  2\  ounces,  and 
an  increase  for  each  100  pounds  live  weight  weekly  of  2  pounds 
2  ounces.  Twenty  of  these  lambs,  fasted  weight,  dressed  out 
61.48  per  cent.     In  extended  experiments  by  this  investigator 


THE  COTSWOLD 


441 


the  best  results  in  feeding  were  secured  on  the  Cotswold,  giving 
a  more  economical  production  than  on  the  Leicester,  Hampshire, 
Sussex,  or  cross-breds.  At  the  Iowa  experiment  station,  in  two 
breed  trials  with  fattening  lambs,  the  Cotswold  made  the  heavi- 
est gain,  averaging  .62  and.  .50  pound  daily  respectively,  consum- 
ing less  dry  matter  to  secure  a  pound  of  gain  than  any  other 
breed  in  each  trial.  In  per  cent  of  dressed  carcass  the  Cotswold 
lambs  showed  an  average  of  54.9  and  53.57  respectively,  a  fair 
record.  From  figures  collated  by  Henry  of  records  at  the  Ameri- 
can Fat  Stock  Shows  at  Chicago  between  1879  and  1882,  Cots- 
wold wethers  showed  the  following  gain  from  birth  : 


Year 

Age 

Average  Weight 

Average  Daily  Gain 

1881   .... 
1878   .... 
1S78  .... 

933  daYs 

535  " 
170  " 

281  pounds 
220   " 

152    " 

.31  pound 
.41   " 
.89   « 

The  general  testimony  is  that  the  Cotswold  is  a  superior  feeder, 
and  Wallace  writes  that  it  is  well  suited  for  feeding  on  stiff  land, 
even  when  pretty  wet,  although  the  last  part  of  the  statement  is 
very  questionable. 

The  value  of  the  Cotswold  in  crossing  and  grading  is  moderate. 
Used  on  native  sheep  or  grade  Merinos,  extra  scale  and  better 
mutton  quality  may  be  obtained,  with  more  fleece.  Formerly 
Cotswold  rams  were  considerably  used  in  the  central  west  on 
common  ewes,  but  the  demand  for  a  smaller  type  of  mutton  and 
a  compact  fleece  caused  the  discontinuance  of  this  practice. 

The  Cotswold  as  a  grazing  sheep  ranks  high  where  pastures 
are  abundant,  but  on  hilly  or  rough  land  it  is  not  a  satisfactory 
breed.  This  breed  does  best  in  the  northern  plain  sections  of 
America,  where  plenty  of  grass,  roots,  and  grain  may  be  grown. 
From  its  quiet  temperament  and  heavy  weight,  like  the  other  long- 
wool  breeds,  it  may  be  fed  to  great  advantage  on  rape  or  turnips 
for  a  limited  time,  on  restricted  areas  within  hurdles. 

The  breeding  qualities  of  the  Cotswold  are  fairly  good,  though 
some  authorities  rank  the  breed  as  superior  in  this  respect.  None 
of  the  large  breeds,  however,  are  strongly  fecund,  though  they 
are  excellent  nurses  and  produce  large  lambs. 


442  SHEEP 

The  Cotswold  as  a  wool  producer,  as  has  already  been  desig- 
nated, has  long  had  high  rank.  The  fleece  is  of  a  lustrous  charac- 
ter with  a  tendency  to  coarseness,  and  on  mature  sheep  may 
attain  a  length  of  12  to  14  inches,  but  is  somewhat  shorter 
than  that  of  the  Lincoln.  Eight  to  ten  inches  is  a  usual  length. 
Many  flocks  show  an  average  weight  of  fleece  of  over  1  o  pounds. 
George  S.  Baber  of  Kentucky  for  years  kept  about  forty  breeding 
ewes,  which  averaged  10  pounds  of  wool  per  head.  For  years 
C.  L.  Day  of  Wisconsin  had  a  large  flock  and  the  fleeces  aver- 
aged about  1 1  pounds  each.  Wallace  places  the  yield  of  fleece 
for  ewes  at  6  to  8  pounds,  and  Wrightson  says  that  in  "  crack  " 
flocks  the  fleeces  may  run  to  9^  pounds,  and  many  fleeces  have 
been  shown  weighing  close  to  14  pounds,  but  these  are  excep- 
tional. In  selecting  breeding  rams  one  well  covered  on  belly  and 
scrotum  should  be  sought,  shearing  a  heavy,  relatively  compact 
fleece,  showing  plenty  of  crimp  and  quality. 

The  distribution  of  the  Cotswold  has  been  rather  widespread 
in  the  past.  It  has  seemed  particularly  suited  to  Gloucestershire 
and  adjoining  sections  of  England,  and  while  flocks  exist  outside 
of  that  locality,  the  breed  is  not  common.  It  has  been  exported 
to  Australia,  New  Zealand,  France,  Germany,  Russia,  Canada, 
and  the  United  States.  In  this  country  it  has  had  a  wide  distri- 
bution, and  twenty-five  years  ago  was  a  prominent  breed  in  some 
sections,  notably  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Kentucky.  At  the  present 
time  Wisconsin  and  Ohio  have  superior  breeding  flocks,  but 
Ontario,  Canada,  leads  in  this  respect.  The  demand  for  smaller 
mutton  with  less  external  fat  and  for  a  medium  or  fine  wool  has 
materially  injured  Cotswold  development  in  America. 

Organizations  for  promoting  Cotswold  sheep  are  maintained  in 
England  and  America.  The  Cotswold  Sheep  Society  of  England 
was  organized  in  1892,  and  has  published  a  number  of  volumes  of 
its  flock  book.  The  American  Cotswold  Sheep  Association  was 
organized  in  1878,  and  has  published  twelve  volumes  of  flock 
books  up  to  1905,  registering  nearly  35,000  sheep. 


CHAPTER   LX 

THE  LINCOLN 

The  native  home  of  Lincoln  sheep  is  in  the  county  of  Lincoln, 
on  the  east  coast  of  England  by  the  North  Sea.  The  soil  is  of 
a  clayey  character.  The  land  is  slightly  hilly  in  places,  but  also 
has  considerable  lowlands  of  rich  pasturage.  The  small  cereals, 
grass,  and  roots  are  the  staple  crops.  The  climate  is  moist  and 
fairly  temperate,  though  rather  cold  alongshore  in  winter. 

The  origin  of  the  Lincoln  dates  back  very  many  years.  There 
had  long  existed  in  Lincolnshire  a  large,  coarse  type  of  sheep 
much  like  the  old  Leicester,  with  white  face  and  legs,  heavy 
head,  large  neck  and  prominent  dewlap,  long  and  hollow  of  back, 
with  flat  ribs  but  good  loin  and  deep  belly.  The  skin  was 
especially  thick,  the  fleece  long  and  coarse,  the  size  very  large, 
and  the  flesh  coarse  and  inferior.  This  old-fashioned  type  was 
improved  by  the  use  of  Leicester  rams  of  the  new  sort,  such  as 
Bakewell  had  produced.  Much  jealousy  had  existed  between 
Leicester  and  Lincoln  breeders  in  those  days,  and  the  Lincoln 
gradually  developed  into  the  largest,  longest  fleeced  breed  of 
sheep  in  Britain.  The  early  type  was  slow  to  mature,  but  Leices- 
ter blood  produced  quicker  feeders  and  generally  improved  the 
symmetry  and  quality.  The  breed,  however,  did  not  have  a  wide 
reputation  like  the  Leicester,  and  until  the  middle  of  the  last 
century  was  known  but  little  outside  of  Lincolnshire. 

The  introduction  of  Lincoln  sheep  to  America  dates  back  over 
a  century.  Prior  to  1796  it  is  stated  that  some  of  the  old 
Lincolns  were  taken  to  Massachusetts,  but,  not  thriving  on  the 
hills,  were  generally  abandoned.  In  1825,  however,  A.  A.  Law- 
rence of  the  same  state  "  imported  6  Southdowns  and  10  Lin- 
colnshires."  In  1829  Mr.  Pickering,  also  of  Massachusetts, 
imported  two  rams  and  two  ewes.  It  is  reported  that  during 
the  ocean  voyage  a  fleece  of  19  pounds  was  removed  from  one 

443 


444  SHEEP 

of  the  rams.  In  1834  Isaac  Maynard  brought  the  first  Lincolns 
to  Ohio  from  the  east.  At  Buffalo  it  is  said  he  was  offered  $500 
for  his  Lincoln  ram.  In  1836  Leonard  D.  Clift  of  Carmel,  New 
York,  imported  some  Lincoln  sheep.  One  pair  was  sold  to  go  to 
Virginia  and  one  to  Ohio  for  $250  each.  Later  importations  were 
made  by  Mr.  Clift.  The  Lincoln  has  since  then  been  brought 
occasionally  to  the  United  States,  though  in  but  a  small  way. 

Characteristics  of  Lincoln  sheep.  The  color  of  the  Lincoln  is 
white,  although  the  face  frequently  has  a  grayish  or  darker  shade 
along  the  bridge  of  the  nose.  The  head  is  large  and  hornless,  is 
often  broad  between  muzzle  and  eyes,  tending  to  Roman  charac- 
ter, the  ears  are  large  and  broad  and  are  dotted  or  mottled  in 
color.  The  Lincoln  has  a  very  broad,  level  back,  is  covered 
with  a  firmer  flesh  than  the  Leicester,  and  shows  a  greater  com- 
parative depth  of  rib  than  that  breed,  not  appearing  so  leggy. 


Fig.  207.  Dowsby  350  Guineas,  first  and  champion  Lincoln  ram  at  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show,  1897.  Bred  by  Henry 
Dudding,  owned  and  exhibited  by  S.  E.  Dean  &  Sons,  Dowsby 
Hall,  Folkingham,  England.    Photograph  by  the  author 

The  rump  is  broad  and  level,  and  the  hind  quarter  of  a  thick, 
meaty  character  as  a  rule,  and  when  heavily  fed  this  is  often  patchy. 
The  legs  are  in  suitable  proportion  to  the  rest  of  the  body,  but 
appear  rather  large  and  coarse.  The  sheep  in  general  appearance 
impresses  one  as  massive.    The  wool  covering  is  in  rather  coarse 


THE  LINCOLN 


445 


spirals  or  curly  locks  which  naturally  part  along  the  back  and 
hang  down  to  considerable  length  on  the  sides.  A  short  foretop, 
or  group  of  locks,  occurs  in  good  specimens  of  the  breed,  more 
than  with  Leicesters  and  less  than  with  Cotswolds. 

The  size  of  the  Lincoln  represents  the  largest  of  the  British 
breeds  of  sheep,  though  Wallace  states  that  it  does  not  exceed 


Fig.  208.  Gibson's  155-10858,  grand-champion  Lincoln  ram  at  the  Louisi- 
ana Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  J.  T.  Gibson, 
Denfield,  Ontario.    Photograph  by  the  author 

the  Cotswold.  The  author  has  seen  a  Wensleydale  ram  that  was 
comparable  with  the  larger  Lincoln.  The  average  Lincoln,  how- 
ever, probably  weighs  heavier  than  does  the  average  of  any  other 
breed.  Rams  of  this  breed  sometimes  attain  a  weight  of  nearly 
400  pounds,  and  when  in  good  flesh  will  easily  weigh  very  nearly 
300  pounds,  while  the  ewes  average  close  to  275  pounds  when 
mature. 

The  Lincoln  as  a  mutton  producer  does  not  rank  high.  The 
size  is  too  large,  too  much  fat  is  produced,  and  the  quality  is  not 
the  best.  When  killed  during  the  lamb  period  a  more  acceptable 
class  of  meat  is  produced.  While  the  carcass  dresses  out  very 
well,  there  is  too  great  a  degree  of  waste  in  fat  and  bone  to  suit 


446  SHEEP 

modern  trade.  In  feeding  experiments  at  the  Iowa  experiment 
station  Lincoln  wether  lambs  in  one  trial  made  an  average  daily 
gain  of  .55  pound  and  in  another  trial  of  .46  pound.  The  price 
paid  for  the  carcass  was  $4.50  and  $5.25  per  hundred,  compared 
with  $4.75  and  $5.75  respectively,  the  highest  price  paid.  The 
Lincolns  dressed  out  55.7  and  51.08  per  cent  in  the  carcass, 
which  was  about  an  average  of  the  breeds  tested.  Comparatively 
few  feeding-experiments  with  Lincolns  are  recorded. 

The  Lincoln  as  a  feeding  sheep  ranks  very  well.  With  suitable 
and  abundant  food  it  matures  early  and  will  fatten  rapidly.  Its 
temperament  is  very  quiet  and  docile,  well  suited  to  folding  or 
the  feed  lot. 

The  Lincoln  as  a  grazing  sheep  is  best  adapted  to  moderately 
dry  upland  meadows,  where  food  is  abundant.  In  the  hill  coun- 
try the  breed  has  never  made  a  success  and  has  not  secured  a 
foothold.  Some  English  writers  have  called  attention  to  the 
eminent  fitness  of  the  Lincoln  to  the  meadows  of  Lincolnshire, 
but  further  note  the  fact  that  they  soon  deteriorate  in  most  other 
parts  of  England.  In  the  Argentine,  where  great  pastures  of 
superior  quality  exist,  Lincolns  are  at  present  meeting  with 
much  favor. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Lincoln  is  to-day  an  important  factor  in 
the  British  mutton  market.  A  large  number  of  Lincoln  rams 
are  used  on  the  common  ewes  of  the  Argentine  or  on  the  grade 
Merino  ewes  of  Australia.  A  visit  to  the  yards  at  Birkenhead, 
England,  where  shiploads  of  live  sheep  are  received  from  the 
Argentine,  shows  the  prevalence  of  Lincoln  blood.  These 
crosses,  or  grades,  make  a  big,  growthy  lamb  which  fattens  easily 
and  furnishes  a  large  chop  or  leg  of  mutton,  more  acceptable  in 
the  English  than  in  the  American  market.  Lincoln  rams  have 
been  used  to  some  extent  on  Merino  grade  ewes  on  our  western 
ranges,  yet  not  in  a  large  way. 

The  Lincoln  as  a  wool  producer  is  of  special  interest.  No  breed 
probably  furnished  so  long  a  fleece.  Wrightson  reports  samples 
of  Lincoln  wool  in  his  possession  2 1  inches  long.  The  rules  of 
the  National  Lincoln  Sheep  Breeders'  Association  require  a 
growth  of  at  least  eight  inches  of  fleece  during  one  year.  The 
weight  of  the  fleece,  which  is  naturally  coarse,  may  in  the  case 


THE   LINCOLN 


447 


of  a  ram  reach  30  pounds.  The  average  weight  of  fleeces  on 
Lincoln  wether  lambs  in  the  Iowa  feeding  experiments  was  12.9 
and  10.4  pounds  respectively,  the  heaviest  of  the  ten  breeds  under 
trial,  and  yielding  the  largest  income  from  sale,  viz.,  $1.79  and 
$1.56  respectively.  A  mature  ewe  should  produce  close  to  15 
pounds,  and  a  ram  18  to  20  pounds.  In  fineness  of  quality  this 
ranks  slightly  better  than  the  Leicester.  Compared  with  the 
Leicester  fleece  it  is  longer,  is  in  larger  spirals  or  curls,  and 


Fig.  209.  A  Lincoln  ewe,  first  prize  in  class  at  the  Ohio  State  Fair,  1905. 
Owned  and  exhibited  by  J.  R.  Bickett,  Xenia,  Ohio.  Photograph  by 
the  author 

covers  the  belly  better.  Wrightson  states  that  the  wool  is  very 
bright  and  lustrous  when  shorn,  giving  the  name  "luster  wool." 
This  feature,  however,  disappears  when  the  sheep  are  bred  away 
from  their  native  county.  The  massing  of  the  wool  in  flakes  or 
strands  upon  the  animal  is  characteristic  of  the  breed,  but  the 
fiber  is  hair-like  and  "lashy"  if  separated  and  compared  with 
the  fiber  of  Merino  wool. 

The  breeding  quality  of  the  Lincoln  is  not  of  the  first  rank. 
Ewes  are  good  mothers  but  produce  only  a  fair  amount  of  milk 
and  are  not  of  more  than  average  fecundity. 


448 


SHEEP 


The  distribution  of  the  Lincoln  is  largely  limited  to  Lincoln- 
shire and  adjoining  east  counties  in  England,  while  it  has  been 
extensively  exported  to  Australia,  New  Zealand,  South  Africa, 
Argentine  Republic,  Russia,  Canada,  and  the  United  States. 
At  the  present  time  an  extensive  trade  exists  between  British 
breeders  and  South  American  buyers,  Lincoln  rams  being  heavily 
shipped  to  the  Argentine.  In  the  United  States  the  breed  has 
never  secured  much  foothold,  neither  has  it  seemed  so  well 
adapted  to  our  conditions  as  to  those  of  Canada  or  England. 
Lincoln  sheep  are  mainly  kept  in   Ontario  and  other  Canadian 

provinces,  and  in  Michi- 
gan, Wisconsin,  Illinois, 
and  Ohio,  several  flocks 
being  kept  in  each  of  these 
states.  Sheep  of  this  large 
type  cannot  thrive  satis- 
factorily during  the  hot, 
dry  summers  so  common 
in  the  central  United 
States.  No  doubt  they 
will  do  better  on  the 
upper  Pacific  coast,  in 
Oregon  and  Washington, 
where  the  climate  more 
nearly  resembles  that  of 
England. 

Organizations  to  promote  Lincoln  sheep  interests  exist  in  Eng- 
land and  America.  The  Lincoln  Long- Wool  Sheep  Breeders' 
Association,  with  headquarters  in  England,  in  the  native  county 
of  the  breed,  supervises  the  welfare  of  these  sheep  in  Great 
Britain.  This  association  was  organized  in  1892,  and  has  pub- 
lished 15  volumes  of  flock  books  up  to  1906.  The  National 
American  Lincoln  Sheep  Breeders'  Association  was  organized 
in  1 89 1,  and  has  published  two  flock  books  up  to  1906. 

The  important  breeders  and  improvers  of  Lincolns  are  still  to 
be  found  in  Lincolnshire.  Mr.  Henry  Dudding  of  Riby  Grove, 
Great  Grimsby,  Lincolnshire,  is  the  most  distinguished  improver 
of  to-day,  and  has  done  much  for  the  breed.    The  Dudding  family 


Fig.  210.  A  Lincoln  ewe  lamb  of  very  superior 
character  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society 
of  England  Show,  1904.  Her  fleece  swept 
the  ground.  Photograph  by  H.  B.  Arbuckle, 
from  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 


THE  LINCOLN  449 

have  bred  these  sheep  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  and  have 
won  the  highest  honors  attained  by  the  breed,  and  maintain  the 
largest  flock  in  the  county.  S.  E.  Dean  &  Sons  are  also  very 
prominent  breeders  in  Lincolnshire,  having  a  large  flock  of 
superior  sheep  from  which  extensive  exportations  are  made. 

The  prices  paid  for  Lincolns  are  among  the  highest  realized  for 
any  breed  of  sheep.  Since  the  South  Americans  and  Australians 
began  to  purchase  rams  for  home  trade  high  prices  have  ruled, 
the  supply  being  limited.  The  ram  sales  of  Lincolnshire  are  now 
world  famous.  On  July  26,  1898,  Mr.  Henry  Dudding's  sale 
established  a  new  record  for  England.  One  ram  sold  for  .£1050 
($5  120),  and  52  rams  brought  an  average  of  .£86  19  s.  ($423.50). 
At  the  1905  sale  of  Mr.  Dudding  a  new  record  was  made,  31 
yearling  rams  bringing  £"2801  8  s.,  and  average  of  about  $440 
each.  The  second-prize  ram  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society 
Show  of  1905  brought  $2500,  while  another  ram  sold  for  $2100. 
Again,  in  1906,  the  annual  sale  of  Mr.  Dudding  at  Riby  broke  all 
previous  records  and  proved  of  international  interest.  One  ram 
sold  for  £1522  10s.  (about  $7600),  the  highest  price  on  record. 
In  all  56  yearling  rams  realized  over  $42,000,  or  brought  an 
average  of  over  $750.  Twenty-three  yearling  ewes  averaged 
about  $85  Each  year  the  Dudding  sale  attracts  world-wide 
attention. 


CHAPTER  LXI 


THE  KENT  OR  ROMNEY  MARSH 


The  native  home  of  the  Kent  sheep  is  in  southeastern  England 
in  the  county  of  Kent,  in  the  district  known  as  Romney  Marsh. 
This  is  a  low,  level,  marshy,  alluvial  plain  about  on  sea  level,  the 
sea  being  held  back  by  strong  walls.    The  climate  is  moist  and 


Fig.  2ii.  A  Kent  or  Romney  Marsh  ram,  first  prize  in  class  at  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Owned  and  exhibited  by 
Charles  File.  Photograph  from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berkham- 
sted,  England 

mild   and  the    region  sparsely  settled.    Here  a   comparatively 
large  number  of  sheep  are  maintained  on  the  land. 

The  early  type  of  Kent  sheep  was  rather  comparable  with 
other  breeds  in  being  deficient  in  rib,  heavy  of  bone,  long  of 
leg,  and  coarse  of  wool.  In  1855,  referring  to  these  as  Romney 
Marsh  sheep,  Professor  Wilson  thus  describes  the  breed  : 

45° 


THE  KENT  OR  ROMNEY  MARSH  451 

The  head  and  legs  are  white  ;  the  head  long  and  broad,  with  a  tuft  of 
wool  on  forehead  ;  no  horns ;  neck  long  and  thin  ;  breast  narrow  with  mod- 
erate fore  quarters  ;  the  body  long  with  flattish  sides  and  sharp  chine  ;  loins 
wide  and  strong  ;  the  belly  large ;  thighs  broad  and  thick  ;  and  legs  and  feet 
large,  with  coarse  bone  and  muscle.  They  are  very  hardy  and  are  well 
adapted  for  the  bleak  and  exposed  district  of  the  Romney  Marshes.  They 
also  bear  stocking  closer  than  other  breeds,  as  it  is  not  unusual  to  see  six  or 
eight  fattening  sheep  placed  to  the  acre.  The  improved  breed  produces 
sheep  ready  for  market  at  from  two  to  three  years  old,  weighing  from  120  to 
140  pounds.    The  fleece  is  valuable,  weighing  on  the  average  eight  pounds. 

The  modern  type  of  Kent  sheep  is  a  decided  improvement  over 
the  breed  as  described  by  Wilson.  The  head  is  white  and  is  fre- 
quently bare  of  wool  and  also  hornless.  Careful  selection  and 
breeding  has  reduced  the  size  somewhat,  but  has  produced  a 
sheep  more  compact  of  frame  and  more  easily  fattened  than  the 
old  sort.  The  back  is  broader,  the  ribs  are  longer,  the  coupling 
shorter,  and  the  leg  of  mutton  heavier  and  of  excellent  quality. 
In  the  improvement  of  the  breed  the  fleece  has  been  refined  to  a 
marked  degree.  The  adaptability  of  the  Kentish  sheep  to  low- 
lying  lands  has  caused  it  to  be  regarded  with  favor  in  eastern 
England  and  in  some  other  sections,  for  it  seems  freer  from  foot 
rot  than  most  breeds ;  in  fact,  it  is  claimed  that  this  breed  on 
Romney  Marshes  is  not  affected  with  this  disease  at  all. 

The  Kent  sheep  in  America  is  almost  unknown.  A  few  indi- 
viduals have  been  brought  here  in  the  past,  but  the  importations 
have  not  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  permanent  and  satisfactory 
foothold.  In  1904  a  few  poor  specimens  were  imported  and 
exhibited  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis,  but 
persons  familiar  with  the  breed  criticised  them  severely.  There 
is  no  question  but  what  Kent  sheep  have  merit  in  their  native 
county,  and  are  suited  to  certain  regions  in  the  United  States. 
In  Australia  the  breed  has  met  with  favor  and  is  imported  to  the 
British  colonies  to  some  extent. 


CHAPTER   LXII 

THE  BLACK  FACED  HIGHLAND 

The  native  home  of  Black  Faced  Highland  Sheep  is  the  more 
elevated  section  of  Scotland,  especially  in  the  Highlands,  in  the 
counties  of  Perth  and  Dumbarton.  Here  this  breed  has  been  bred 
on  the  heather-topped  hills,  where  the  winters  are  rough  and  cold, 
for  certainly  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years  or  more. 

The  origin  of  the  Black  Faced  Highland  Sheep  is  unknown. 
Sheep  of  this  sort  have  been  known  for  a  long  period  of  time  in 


Fig.  212.  A  Black  Faced  Highland  ram,  first  prize  in  class  at  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Photograph  from  William 
Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berkhamsted,  England 

the  Highlands,  where  in  earlier  days  they  were  not  very  pop- 
ular. The  fact  that  this  breed  was  extremely  hardy  and  could 
endure  on  the  higher  mountains  even  better  than  the  Cheviot  gave 
it  a  foothold  a  half  century  or  so  ago,  which  it  has  since  held. 

452 


THE  BLACK  FACED  HIGHLAND 


453 


The  introduction  of  Black  Faced  Highland  sheep  to  America  first 
occurred  in  June,  1861,  Hugh  Brodie  importing  one  ram  and 
two  ewes  for  Brodie  &  Campbell,  New  York  Mills,  New  York. 
In  1867  this  flock  and  its  increase  was  purchased  by  T.  L. 
Harison  of  Morley,  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York.  Isaac 
Stickney  of  New  York  also  imported  a  small  flock  about  1867 
for  his  farm  in  Illinois.  Other  than  these  very  few  of  these 
sheep  have  ever  been  brought  to  America. 

Characteristics  of  the  Black  Faced  Highland  sheep.  Both  sexes 
have  horns,  those  of  the  males  being  rather  large,  taking  one  or 
two  spiral  curves.    The  ewes'  horns  are  small,  thin,  and  curved, 


Fig.  213.   A  group  of  Black  Faced  Highland  sheep.    Photograph  by 
H.  B.  Arbuckle,  from  the  National  Stock7nan  and  Farmer 


but  not  spiral.  The  face  is  covered  with  hair,  not  wool,  of  either 
a  solid  black  or  a  mottled  white  and  black  color.  The  nose  is 
strong  and  prominent,  the  nostrils  wide  and  black,  and  the  ears 
short  and  small.  The  body  is  that  of  the  typical  mutton  sheep, 
though  not  of  heavy  flesh  type.  The  fleece  is  very  long  and  coarse, 
often  kempy,  and  very  loosely  covers  the  body.  The  breed  belongs 
to  the  long-wool  group,  and  the  fleece  is  specially  used  in  making 
carpets  and  coarse  woolen  goods.  In  temperament  the  breed  is 
very  wild  and  independent,  quite  unlike  the  heavier  lowland  sheep. 
In  size  Black  Faced  sheep  are  small  to  medium. 

The  special  value  of  the  Black  Faced  Highland  sheep  is  based 
on  its    hardy   character   and   ability  to   withstand  very  rough 


454 


SHEEP 


exposure  in  winter  in  mountain  regions  where  food  is  scarce  ; 
and  also  for  its  mutton,  which  is  popular  in  the  British  market 
because  of  its  superior  flavor  and  fine  quality  and  grain.  The 
fleece  is  not  very  valuable,  and  on  ewes  averages  3  J-  to  4|  pounds 
unwashed. 

Cross-bred  or  grade  Black  Faced  Highland  sheep  meet  with 
favor  in  Scotland,  giving  a  heavier  fleshed  type  with  the  good 
quality  of  mutton  of  the  pure-bred.  Robert  Wallace  states  that 
the  produce  of  a  Black  Faced  ewe  by  a  Leicester  ram  is  called 
a  "  cross  "  or  "  mule,"  and  by  a  Cheviot  ram  a  "  half  long."  The 
latter  name  is  given  because  a  Black  Faced  is  sometimes  termed 
the  "short"  sheep  and  a  Cheviot  the  "long"  sheep.  As  ewes 
these  sheep  of  mixed  breed  are  good  milkers. 

The  distribution  of  Black  Faced  Highland  sheep  is  mainly 
over  the  Highlands  of  Scotland  and  in  a  small  degree  on  the 
higher  of  the  mountain  regions  of  north  England.  Large  num- 
bers are  bred  in  the  Highlands,  and  this  with  the  Cheviot 
occupies  most  of  the  space  at  the  Scotch  shows.  There  is  no 
flock-book  society  to  promote  the  breeding  of  this  sheep. 

The  special  field  for  Black  Faced  Highland  sheep  in  America 
should  be  the  mountain  regions  east  and  west,  but  more  espe- 
cially the  higher  sections  of  the  lower  Alleghanies,  where  grass 
grows  in  abundance.  The  Cheviot,  however,  is  almost  equally 
hardy  and  is  far  better  suited  to  the  American  market. 


CHAPTER    LXIII 

THE  ANGORA  GOAT 

The  native  home  of  the  Angora  goat  is  in  the  district  of 
Angora  in  Asia  Minor.  Angora,  the  principal  city;  is  about  220 
miles  south  by  southeast  of  Constantinople,  Turkey.  This  is 
a  mountainous  region  2000  to  4000  feet  high,  lying  south  of 
the  Black  Sea,  forty  degrees  north  latitude  passing  through 
it  at  Angora  200  miles  from  the  sea.  The  climate  has  wide 
extremes  of  heat  and  cold.  The  rainfall  is  rather  variable  but 
light.  The  soil  is  frequently  poor  and  free  of  vegetation.  Forests 
occur  to  a  considerable  extent  also.  It  is  probable  that  this 
goat  has  inhabited  this  region  for  many  centuries,  dating  back 
to  days  before  the  Christian  era. 

Several  varieties  of  goat  in  Angora  are  reported,  each  located 
in  a  special  district.  These  according  to  Gatheral  are  the  fol- 
lowing:  (a)  Yava?i-Ova,  having  a  heavy,  lustrous  fleece;  (b) 
Chorba,  producing  a  very  soft,  fine  mohair ;  (c)  Chubotik-Ova, 
remarkable  for  length  and  fineness  of  fiber  ;  (d)  Ay  ash,  white  of 
fleece,  but  lacking  luster  ;  (e)  Joevas,  having  a  bright,  showy,  but 
kempy  fleece.     Other  varieties  are  also  referred  to. 

The  introduction  of  the  Angora  goat  to  America  dates  back  to 
1849,  when  the  Sultan  of  Turkey  presented  Dr.  James  B.  Davis 
of  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  with  nine  choice  animals.  These 
were  long  known  as  Cashmere  goats,  but  evidence  seems  to 
show  that  they  were  true  Angoras.  These  goats  and  their  prog- 
eny were  sold  later  to  various  people,  but  especially  to  Colonel 
Richard  Peters,  who  bought  in  1854.  They  were  shown  quite 
extensively  and  attracted  much  attention.  From  the  Davis 
importation  flocks  became  established  over  considerable  terri- 
tory in  many  states.  In  1863  large  flocks  were  reported  in 
Georgia,  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Texas,  Kansas, 
Iowa,    Michigan,    Minnesota,   Missouri,    Ohio,    Maryland,    New 

455 


456  THE  GOAT 

York,  and  Massachusetts.  A  number  of  other  importations 
followed  that  of  1849.  In  1861  Mr.  W.  W.  Chenery  of  Belmont, 
Massachusetts,  made  two  importations,  and  later  others  in  1866 
and  1867.  About  1867  Messrs.  I.  S.  Diehl  and  C.  S.  Brown 
imported  160  head  and  placed  them  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Brown  at 
Newark,  New  Jersey.  A  number  of  other  importations  followed 
the  above,  notably  that  of  John  S.  Harris  of  California  in  1876 


Fig.  214.  Hobson's  African,  first  in  aged  Angora  buck  class  at  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  Exposition,  Portland,  Oregon,  1905.  Weight  of  fleece  i8|  pounds 
at  thirteen  months  old,  selling  for  $1.50  per  pound.  At  head  of  the 
flock  of  William  Riddell  &  Sons,  Monmouth,  Oregon.  Photograph  from 
L.  A.  Webster 

and   Dr.   W.    C.    Bailey  of   California  in    1901,   both   of   which 
gentlemen  made  personal  selections  in  Asia  Minor. 

A  description  of  the  Angora  goat  of  improved  type  is  quoted 
from  the  late  Professor  George  F.  Thompson,  a  well-known 
American  authority  on  this  animal : 

The  Angora  goat  is  smaller  than  the  ordinary  common  goat.  It  weighs 
from  60  to  100  pounds,  although  some  are  frequently  found  that  weigh 
considerably  more,  especially  if  fat.    The  back  should  be  straight,  with 


THE  ANGORA  GOAT 


457 


shoulders  and  hips  of  equal  height.  A  sloping  rump  is  very  objectionable. 
The  chest  should  be  broad,  indicating  good  constitution,  and  the  body 
round,  legs  short  and  strong.  The  head  should  not  droop,  but  be  clean-cut, 
with  bright  eye  and  broad  muzzle  ;  avoid  a  pinched  nostril.  The  horns  are 
grayish,  never  black  ;  in  the  buck  they  are  heavy,  with  an  inward  twist, 
inclining  backward  and  to  the  outside.  The  doe's  horns  rise  immediately 
upward  and  backward,  slightly  outward,  with  very  little  inclination  to  twist. 
In  most  animals  the  ears  are  pendent  and  from  six  to  eight  inches  long, 
with  an  average  width  of  about  two  inches,  and  well  pointed.  In  some 
animals  the  ears  are  fox-like, 
—  short,  pointed,  and  pricked. 
There  appear  to  be  no  other 
differences  between  the  goats 
having  the  different  kinds  of 
ears. 

The  fleece  of  the  animals 
should  be  pure  white,  although 
there  are  colored  Angoras. 
No  colored  spots  on  the  skin 
should  be  tolerated.  The 
fleece  should  cover  the  entire 
body,  —  as  dense  on  the  belly 
and  neck  as  on  the  back  and 
sides  ;  should  extend  to  the 
ears  and  jaw.  While  some  are 
breeding  for  the  topknot  and 
for  mohair  on  the  face  and 
lower  legs,  this  is  not  an  evi- 
dence that  the  animal  is  better 

than  another  that  may  not  have  the  head  and  face  covered.  The  mohair 
should  grow  to  the  length  of  about  ten  inches  during  a  year,  and  hang  in 
tight  ringlets  or  wavy  curls.    The  curl  should  extend  entirely  up  to  the  skin. 

The  Angora  goat  sheds  its  fleece  each  spring  if  not  shorn. 
Some  are  hornless,  though  such  are  rather  uncommon.  The 
Angora  has  no  strong  musky  odor,  like  the  common  goat,  except- 
ing in  the  case  of  the  male  during  the  breeding  season. 

The  fleece  of  the  Angora  goat  is  commercially  known  as 
mohair.  It  differs  from  wool  in  having  no  exterior  scales  and 
not  possessing  the  felting  quality.  Mohair  is  somewhat  coarser 
than  fine  wool,  but  it  is  longer  and  much  stronger.  An  average 
fleece  weighs  about  three  pounds.  Riddle  &  Sons  of  Monmouth, 
Oregon,  report  that  their  buck  Sultan,  sweepstakes  at  the  Lewis 
and  Clark  Exposition  in   1905,   sheared  a  fleece  weighing   i8.V 


Fig.  2 1 5.  Pasha  Columbia,  a  great  Angora  sire 
and  show  buck,  costing  $1050,  at  the  head 
of  the  flock  of  Mrs.  M.  Armer,  Kingston, 
New  Mexico.  Photograph  from  the  National 
Stockman  and  Farmer 


458 


THE  GOAT 


pounds,  which  they  claim  makes  it  the  heaviest  fleece  on  record. 
This  mohair  lies  over  a  short  coat  of  hair  known  as  kemp,  which 
is  hard  and  white,  sometimes  attaining  a  length  of  four  inches. 
Kemp  is  a  very  objectionable  fiber,  as  it  is  coarse  and  will  not 
take  the  dyes  used  with  mohair.  Its  presence  in  American  flocks 
is  materially  due  to  the  influence  of  common  goat  blood  on  which 
the  Angora  has  been  much  crossed  in  the  past.  Very  careful 
selection  of  breeding  sires  helps  to  greatly  reduce  this  difficulty. 
The  prices  of  mohair  differ  according  to  the  demand  and  qual- 
ity.   In  Bradford,  England,  the  mohair  manufacturing  center  of 

the  world,  the  price  has 
ranged  from  23  to  92 
cents  a  pound  since  1856, 
though  during  the  past 
twenty-five  years  it  has 
ranged  low  rather  than 
high.  In  1 90 1  the  aver- 
age price  in  the  United 
States  was  about  25  cents. 
Late  in  1905  choice  comb- 
ing mohair  was  quoted  in 
Chicago  at  34  to  36  cents 
a  pound. 

The  value  of  the  Angora 
as  a  mutton  producer  is 
not  regarded  commercially 
as  very  important.  The 
flesh  of  the  fat  young 
Angora  makes  excellent  mutton,  although  comparatively  few  find 
their  way  into  the  markets.  Sold  in  the  stock  yards  Angoras  usu- 
ally bring  a  lower  price  than  sheep.  Some  Angora  breeders  are 
enthusiastic  over  the  superior  quality  of  the  mutton.  Wethers  may 
be  shorn  for  some  years  and  then  fattened  and  sold  for  mutton. 

The  Angora  as  a  renovator  of  brush  land  has  a  distinct  value. 
The  goat  is  naturally  a  browser  and  not  a  grazing  animal.  In 
brush  lands  he  is  in  his  element.  He  eats  the  slender  tips 
and  twigs  and  destroys  young  trees  and  brush  very  effectually. 
In  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  some  other  states  large  tracts  of 


Fig.  216.  Aztec  10664,  the  champion  Angora 
goat  of  the  1902  shows.  Bred  by  D.  C.  Tay- 
lor &  Son  and  sold  for  $1 400  to  Kemble  Bros, 
of  Iowa.  Photograph  from  the  National  Stock- 
man and  Farmer 


THE  ANGORA  GOAT 


459 


brush  land  have  been  pastured  to  flocks  of  goats,  which  have 
materially  reduced  the  cost  of  clearing  the  land  for  farm  purposes. 

The  distribution  of  Angora  goats  is  very  widespread.  They 
are  found  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  but  especially  in  Asia 
Minor,  South  Africa,  and  the  United  States.  With  reasonable 
care  they  seem  adapted  to  a  wide  range  of  climatic  conditions, 
and  do  well  in  the  dryer  southwestern  states  and  in  Wisconsin 
and  the  colder,  moister  north.  A  dry  climate,  however,  seems  to 
offer  the  best  condition  of  health.  At  the  present  day  Angora 
goats  are  found  in  nearly  every  state  in  the  country,  with  very 
large  flocks  in  New  Mexico,  Texas,  and  the  southwest. 

The  prolificacy  of  the  Angora  goat  is  not  marked.  Rarely  more 
than  one  kid  is  dropped  a  year,  though  twins  occur.  Thompson 
states  that  on  the  southwestern  ranches  the  average  percentage  of 
kids  is  about  70,  with  instances  of  flocks  attaining  120  per  cent. 

The  price  for  Angora  goats  varies  greatly.  Many  have  changed 
hands  on  western  ranches  at  two  or  three  dollars  a  head,  but  very 
high  prices  have  been  paid.  Pure-bred,  fair  specimens  have  sold 
at  prices  comparable  with  sheep  of  average  breeding  character. 
In  1 90 1,  at  the  Kansas  City  Goat  Show,  the  buck  Columbia 
Pasha  changed  hands  for  $1050,  while  the  next  year  Mr.  A. 
Kemble  of  Iowa  paid  $1400  at  the  same  show  for  the  buck 
Aztec.  Still  later,  in  1903,  at  the  Kansas  City  Show,  the  buck 
Dick  Junior,  sweepstake  of  the  show,  sold  for  $1300.  Lazarus, 
that  sold  in  1900  for  $700,  was  a  famous  show  buck  and  proved 
to  be  a  breeder  of  much  merit.  The  highest  price  ever  paid  for 
a  doe  in  America  was  $900  for  Oregon  Beauty,  champion  year- 
ling at  Kansas  City  in  1905. 

The  American  Angora  Goat  Breeders'  Association  promotes  the 
interest  of  the  breed.  This  is  a  young  organization  with  its  mem- 
bership mainly  distributed  in  the  far  West.  Goats  are  registered 
much  as  in  other  pure-bred  live-stock  associations. 


CHAPTER    LXIV 

THE    MILCH    GOAT 

The  goat  as  a  milk  producer  has  long  had  a  recognized  place 
among  the  poorer  people  of  the  various  countries  of  the  world. 
Among  common  goats  a  yield  of  a  quart  a  day  is  not  uncommon. 
Some  breeds  of  goats  are  quite  heavy  producers  of  milk,  as  will 
be  shown  further  on.  Goats'  milk  is  quite  white  in  color  and 
contains  about  four  and  one-half  per  cent  of  fat  and  somewhat 
more  albumen  than  cows'  milk.  Where  goats  are  properly  kept, 
under  clean  conditions,  and  the  milk  properly  drawn  and  cared 
for,  no  unpleasant  flavor  or  odor  is  connected  with  it. 

Varieties  of  milk  producing  goats  occur  in  several  countries, 
some  of  which  are  specially  bred  for  their  value  as  milkers.  The 
common  goat  seen  in  America  and  the  Angora  produce  milk, 
but  milking  families  of  these  have  not  as  yet  been  much  developed. 
The  following  are  the  leading  breeds  of  milch  goats. 

The  Maltese  goat  is  especially  bred  on  the  island  of  Malta  in 
the  Mediterranean  Sea.  The  island  of  95  square  miles  supports 
a  population  of  about  200,000  people,  and  nearly  30,000  goats 
and  900  cows  are  used  in  milk  production.  Maltese  goats  are 
usually  hornless,  the  body  is  compact,  and  the  legs  short.  The 
ears  are  carried  rather  horizontally  and  are  fairly  long.  In  color 
they  are  usually  white,  with  some  red  markings,  and  have  long 
hair.  The  udders  are  very  large,  of  much  capacity,  and  come 
quite  near  to  the  ground.  This  is  one  of  the  best  milking  breeds 
of  goats.  They  milk  for  quite  a  long  period,  and  the  better 
individuals  produce  from  three  to  four  quarts  a  day.  Whether 
this  breed  would  do  well  in  the  cold  sections  of  America,  where 
much  moisture  is  prevalent  in  winter,  is  not  yet  demonstrated. 
In  the  summer  of  1905  the  late  Professor  G.  F.  Thompson  of 
the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  went  to  Malta  and 
imported  to  this  country  68  of  these  goats,  and  their  adaptability 

460 


THE  MILCH  GOAT  46 1 

to  American  conditions  will  be  studied.  Some  Maltese  goats 
were  taken  to  Canada  a  few  years  ago,  where  it  is  said  they 
have  done  very  well. 

The  Toggenburg  goat.  This  breed  is  raised  more  particularly 
in  the  Toggenburg  Valley  in  Switzerland,  where  it  has  been  bred 
for  centuries.  This  goat  is  a  medium  brown  in  color,  with  a 
white  band  passing  along  down  each  side  of  the  face  from  eyes 
to  mouth.  The  breed  is  rather  slender  and  lean  of  body  and 
neck.    Horns  may  or  may  not  occur,  though  it  is  regarded  as  a 


Fig.  217.    A  Toggenburg  milch  goat.    Photograph  from  the 
American  Sheep  Breeder 

hornless  breed.  The  ears  are  of  moderate  size  and  are  usually 
carried  somewhat  erect.  The  males  have  a  coarse  beard  and 
are  rather  more  free  of  offensive  odor  than  male  goats  of  other 
breeds.  The  breed  differs  in  character  of  coat  of  hair,  some 
animals  having  a  rough,  long  coat,  others  a  short  one,  and  still 
others  one  of  a  medium  character.  The  udder  seems  capable  of 
great  capacity.  When  full  it  is  carried  high  between  the  legs 
and  has  large,  long  teats.  Many  of  these  goats  produce  from 
four  to  five  quarts  of  milk  a  day,  while  the  best  produce  from 
five  to  six  or  even  seven  quarts.    The  breed  is  regarded  as  very 


462  THE   GOAT 

hardy,  and  it  is  thought  will  be  well  suited  to  the  more  elevated 
regions  in  America. 

The  Saanen  goat  derives  its  name  from  the  Saanen  Valley  in 
Switzerland.  It  is  the  largest  breed  of  that  country,  is  lean  and 
lank,  is  pure  white  or  creamy  white  of  color,  and  in  general  has 
short  hair  over  the  body  excepting  along  the  spine  and  at  flanks 
and  lower  thighs.    Thompson  says  : 

The  does  are  especially  beautiful,  with  slim,  long,  graceful  necks  and 
clean,  breedy-looking  heads.  The  head  of  the  buck  is  decidedly  masculine, 
but  does  not  have  the  serious  look  of  the  Toggenburger.  The  breast  is  well 
developed ;  as  a  rule  the  udder  is  very  pretty  and  carried  high.  This  is 
considered  a  hornless  breed,  but,  as  with  the  Toggenburgers,  occasionally 
one  is  found  with  horns. 

There  are  many  fine  milkers  in  this  breed,  though  the  average 
will  not  show  to  quite  so  good  an  advantage  as  the  Toggenburg. 
Peer  states  that  "  the  best  of  them  are  probably  the  best  in  the 
world,  giving  from  five  to  six  quarts  per  day  of  the  very  best  qual- 
ity." Thompson  gives  a  record  of  10  goats  which  made  annual 
records  ranging  from  423  to  951  quarts. 

The  Appenzell  goat  is  a  breed  also  found  in  the  Toggenburg 
Valley,  Switzerland.  The  color  is  usually  white,  though  some  are 
dark  or  spotted.  It  is  a  breed  that  weighs  about  1 10  pounds,  ranks 
next  to  the  two  described  breeds  as  a  milker,  and  is  very  hardy. 

The  Schwarzthal  goat  is  especially  found  in  the  Canton  Valais, 
Switzerland,  and  in  the  Rhone  Valley.  It  is  also  known  as  the 
Glazier  goat.  This  is  a  rather  large  breed  of  striking  appearance, 
with  horns  and  tuft  of  long  hair  on  the  forehead,  and  slender 
legs.  The  front  part  of  the  body  to  back  of  the  shoulders  is 
black,  while  the  balance  of  the  body  is  white.  The  front  hoofs 
are  black  and  the  hind  ones  are  yellow.  This  is  an  extremely 
hardy  breed,  perhaps  the  toughest  of  any.  It  does  not  yield  as 
heavily  of  milk  as  some  other  breeds. 

The  Langensalzaer  goat  is  bred  in  the  central  part  of  Germany, 
in  and  about  Thuringia.  There  are  several  types  and  colors. 
The  better  sort  is  a  very  good  milker. 

The  Nubian  goat  is  found  in  Nubia,  Upper  Egypt,  Abyssinia, 
and  also  in  South  Africa.  It  is  very  large  and  has  long  legs.  The 
head  is  of   striking  appearance,  being  almost  always  hornless, 


THE  MILCH   GOAT 


463 


and  has  a  remarkable  Roman  face  with  depressed  nostrils.  The 
lower  jaw  extends  beyond  the  upper,  showing  the  teeth.  The 
ears  are  frequently  very  large,  long,  and  droopy,  or  they  may 
be  short  and  pointed.  The  color  is  very  bright  brown  or  black. 
The  hair  is  short  on  some  specimens  and  long  on  others.  The 
udder  is  large  and  the  lobes  are  deeply  divided,  with  very  good- 
sized  teats.  This  is  one  of  the  highest  types  of  milch  goats,  is 
credited  with  as  much  as 
ten  to  twelve  quarts  of 
milk  a  day,  and  is  said 
to  rarely  give  less  than 
four  quarts  per  day.  This 
breed  has  been  crossed 
on  other  goats  to  special 
advantage.  Nubian  goats 
are  very  docile.  They  lack 
hardiness,  being  quite  un- 
able to  withstand  cold. 

There  are  numerous 
other  breeds  of  milch 
goats  found  in  various 
parts  of  the  world. 

The  American  Milch 
Goat  Record  Association 
was  organized  on  Novem- 
ber 12,  1903,  to  promote 
the  establishment  of  a 
milch-goat  industry  in 
America.  At  the  second  annual  meeting  of  this  association,  in 
December,  1905,  it  was  decided  that  milch  goats  imported  here- 
after must  be  accompanied  by  a  certificate  satisfactory  to  the 
secretary  as  to  their  breeding  and  country  of  origin,  and  that 
from  the  year  1906  the  qualification  for  native  milch  goats  should 
be  one  quart  of  milk  a  day  to  entitle  them  to  registry. 

The  period  of  lactation  of  the  goat  varies  according  to  the 
breeding  and  care.  The  common  goat  of  this  country  produces 
milk  from  three  to  five  months.  In  Europe,  with  the  distinctly- 
milking  breeds,  the  period  is  more  extended.    There  the  plan  is 


Fig.  218.  Phyllis,  an  imported  Toggenburg 
doe,  showing  a  very  great  development  of 
the  udder.  Photograph  from  Professor  F.  K. 
Cooke,  Winnetka,  Illinois 


464  THE  GOAT 

to  have  one  doe  come  fresh  in  the  spring  and  milk  for  about  six 
months,  where  two  are  used  in  the  family,  having  the  other  kid 
in  the  fall.  This  provides  a  supply  of  milk  for  the  entire  year. 
The  fecundity  of  the  milch  goat.  Does  usually  drop  two  kids 
at  one  time,  and  occasionally  three.  It  is  stated  by  Thompson 
that  there  is  a  record  of  a  Nubian  goat  which  dropped  eleven 


Fig.  219.    Marina,  an  imported  Saanen  doe,  owned  by  Professor  F.  K. 
Cooke,  Winnetka,  Illinois.    Photograph  from  the  owner 

kids  within  twelve  months.  The  period  of  pregnancy  is  five 
months,  as  with  sheep. 

The  age  attained  by  milch  goats  naturally  varies.  They  have 
been  known  to  live  to  be  sixteen  years  old,  but  will  probably 
attain  to  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age  with  reasonable  care.  The 
doe  is  in  her  prime  at  from  five  to  seven  years  of  age. 

The  prices  for  milch  goats  are  rather  indefinite.  American 
goats  are  to  be  bought  at  all  sorts  of  prices  from  $2  up  to 
$10,  depending  upon  the  value  to  the  owner.  The  best  milkers 
of  Malta  sell  at  $18  to  $25,  those  of  Switzerland  at  about  $20. 
Peer  states  that  Toggenburg  does  at  one  to  two  years  old  cost 
from  $12  to  $15  per  head  before  dropping  their  kids.    In  Syria 


THE  MILCH  GOAT  465 

and  Egypt  they  fetch  as  low  as  $4.  In  England  prices  rule  high 
for  milch  goats,  ranging  up  to  as  high  as  $40  for  selected  home- 
bred, or  to  $100  for  the  pure  Toggenburger.  At  the  present 
time  a  great  deal  of  attention  is  being  devoted  to  the  milch  goat, 
and  this  may  result  in  materially  higher  prices. 

Importations  of  milch  goats  to  America  began  in  1893,  when 
Mr.  W.  A.  Shafor  of  Ohio  brought  to  this  country  four  Tog- 
genburg  goats  which  he  purchased  in  England.  In  May,  1904, 
Mr.  F.  S.  Peer  of  New  York  imported  16  Toggenburg  and  10 
Saanen  goats  to  this  country  for  Messrs.  W.  J.  Cohill  of  Mary- 
land, R.  N.  Riddle  of  New  Jersey,  W.  M.  Decker  of  New  York, 
and  S.  K.  Bayley  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Cohill  also  secured  two 
goats  from  Carl  Hagenback  at  the  World's  Fair,  St.  Louis,  in 
1904,  that  Hagenback  had  brought  from  the  Black  Forest  of 
Germany.  These  are  supposed  to  be  Schwarzwald  goats.  In 
1905  Professor  Thompson  imported  68  Maltese  goats,  as  noted 
on  a  preceding  page. 


466  SHEEP  AND  GOATS 


A  FEW  REFERENCE  BOOKS  ON  SHEEP  AND  GOATS 

Those  marked  with  a  *  are  especially  recommended. 

William  L.  Black,  A  New  Industry,  or  Raising  the  Angora  Goat.    Texas,  1890. 

T.  Bohm,  Die  Schafzucht,  2  vols.    Berlin,  1883. 

*E.  A.  Carman,  H.  A.  Heath,  and  John  Minto,  Special  Report  on  the  History 
and  Present  Condition  of  the  Sheep  Industry  of  the  United  States.  Wash- 
ington, 1892. 

Le  Four,  Le  Mouton.    Paris,  N.D. 

*Bryan  Hook,  Milch  Goats  and  their  Management.    London,  1902. 

Mentzel,  Die  Schafzucht.    Berlin,  1892. 

L.  A.  Morrell,  The  American  Shepherd.    New  York,  1846. 

Stephen  Powers,  The  American  Merino.    New  York,  1887. 

Henry  S.  Randall,  The  Practical  Shepherd.    Rochester,  1863. 

Henry  S.  Randall,  Fine  Wool  Sheep  Husbandry.    New  York,  1868. 

*Henry  S.  Randall,  Sheep  Husbandry.    New  York,  1883. 

Dr.  O.  Rohde,  Die  Schafzucht.     Berlin,  1879. 

*S.  C.  C.  Schreiner,  The  Angora  Goat.  New  York,  1898. 

James  Scott,  Black  Faced  Sheep.    Edinburgh,  1888. 

W.  S.  Spooner,  The  Sheep  :  History,  Structure,  Economy,  Disease.  London, 
1888. 

Henry  Stewart,  The  Shepherd's  Manual.    New  York,  1890. 

*Henry  Stewart,  The  Domestic  Sheep.    Chicago,  1898. 

*G.  F.  Thompson,  A  Manual  of  Angora  Goat  Raising.    Chicago,  1903. 

*G.  F.  Thompson,  Information  Concerning  the  Milch  Goat.    Washington,  1905. 

John  Usher,  The  Border  Breeds  of  Sheep.    Kelso,  1893. 

*J.  E.  Wing,  Sheep  Farming  in  America.    Chicago,  1905. 

Dr.  William  A.  Rushworth,  The  Sheep.    Buffalo,  1899. 

*John  Wrightson,  Sheep:  Breeds  and  Management.    London,  1893. 

*William  Youatt,  Sheep  :  Their  Breeds,  Management,  and  Diseases.  London, 
i837- 


PART   IV— THE    PIG 
CHAPTER  LXV 

THE  AMERICAN  TYPE  OF  PIG 

The  type  of  swine  most  valued  in  the  United  States  possesses 
great  compactness  of  form,  breadth  of  back,  fullness  of  ham, 
shortness  of  limb,  and  is  capable  of  fattening  rapidly  and  matur- 
ing early.  It  is  a  type  that  in  its  highest-fed  and  most  popular 
form  contains  a  large  amount  of  fat,  especially  in  leaf  lard  and 
external  covering.  It  represents  the  extreme  development  of 
meat  production,  and,  as  ordinarily  corn  fed  in  the  states,  is  not 
looked  upon  with  favor  by  people  of  other  countries.  It  is  often 
referred  to  as  the  lard  type  of  pig,  from  its  natural  heavy  fat 
production.  In  this  connection  it  may  be  said  that  while  this 
type  is  quite  generally  popular  and  approved  of,  the  character 
and  degree  of  fleshing  is  materially  influenced  by  the  sort  of  food 
fed.  Even  those  breeds  recognized  as  of  the  bacon  type,  kept 
and  fed  under  the  conditions  of  the  corn  belt,  undergo  a  gradual 
evolution  toward  the  type  most  popular  in  this  country,  losing 
much  of  the  bacon-producing  attributes.  In  connection  with  a 
consideration  of  this  type  it  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
fattest  specimens  do  not  represent  the  best  type.  A  pig  may 
easily  be  made  overfat.  It  would  be  in  the  interests  of  swine 
in  general,  if  judges  at  shows  deprecated  and  turned  down  exces- 
sively fat  animals  and  placed  suitable  emphasis  on  breeding 
stock  or  fat  stock,  according  to  its  purpose  and  merit. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  pig  should  be  compact  and  thick 
of  body,  involving  shortness  of  head,  broad  back,  strong  hams, 
deep  body,  short  legs,  and  plenty  of  quality,  as  shown  in  abun- 
dance and  fineness  of  hair  and  strong  bone  and  joints.  The  tem- 
perament should  be  mild  yet  active,  for  the  disposition  has  much 

467 


468 


THE  PIG 


to  do  with  determining  whether  the  animal  is  a  desirable  breeder 
or  feeder.  Size  or  weight  have  a  bearing  on  the  market  price, 
and  pigs  of  this  type  for  size  weigh  heavy.  Generally  speaking, 
at  the  present  time  the  average  weight  of  the  pig  sold  on  the 
market  ranges  about  225  pounds. 

The  head  is  short  and  broad  in  the  best  specimens,  without 
much  length  of  snout.  Between  the  eyes  the  width  should  be 
fair  in  proportion  to  the  rest  of  the  head.  Excessive  fat  about 
the  eyes  is  quite  undesirable.  The  ears  should  be  placed  well 
on  the  head,  be  neatly  attached,  and  show  refinement  in  quality 
of  hair  and  texture.    A  large  ear  is  undesirable,  one  of  medium 


Fig.  220.  A  type  of  the  fat  or  lard  hog,  a  cross-bred  Berkshire-Poland  China, 
bred  by  the  Ohio  State  University.    Photograph  by  the  author 


size  and  neatly  pointed  being  preferred.  A  smooth,  round  jowl, 
full  and  firm,  yet  not  heavily  fat  and  flabby  is  desirable.  Wrinkles 
or  seams  on  any  part  of  the  head  are  distinctly  objectionable. 

The  neck  should  not  be  long,  but  rather  broad  and  short,  with 
a  smooth  blending  at  head  and  shoulder.  The  tendency  is 
toward  a  narrow  neck  on  top  ;  too  much  width  or  depth  does 
not  often  occur. 

The  breast  and  chest  indicate  constitution.  When  the  breast  is 
wide  and  deep,  the  breastbone  carried  well  forward,  and  the  curve 
about  the  chest  good  and  strong  both  above  and  below,  plenty  of 
room  for  the  heart  and  lungs  is  shown.  A  narrow  chest  is  incon- 
sistent with  vigorous  development  and  good  feeding  qualities. 


THE  AMERICAN  TYPE  OF  PIG  469 

The  shoulders  should  fit  smoothly  back  into  the  body,  showing 
no  roughness  or  openness  at  the  top.  A  smooth,  broad,  evenly 
fleshed  shoulder  on  the  fat  pig  is  most  desirable  from  the  mar- 
ket point  of  view.  The  mature  boar  will  show  some  thickness 
and  heaviness  of  skin  here  at  the  "  shields,"  those  parts  inherited 
from  the  wild  boar  as  a  protection  in  fighting.  It  is  objection- 
able, however,  even  with  the  boar,  to  have  notable  thickness  of 
shoulder,  as  this  is  quite  liable  to  be  transmitted. 

The  front  legs  should  show  good  position,  superior  bone,  and 
shortness.  Standing  in  natural  position,  viewed  from  in  front, 
the  legs  should  stand  just  under  the  shoulders,  the  knees  straight, 
the  toes  directing  forward,  the  entire  position  indicating  easy 
posture.  Pigs  of  narrow  heart  girth,  at  least  of  the  floor  of  the 
chest,  usually  stand  with  the  knees  close  together  and  are  what 
is  sometimes  termed  "knock-kneed."  From  one  side  the  leg 
should  come  down  true  and  plumb  from  the  center  of  the 
shoulder,  standing  strong  on  the  toes,  with  pasterns  fairly  erect 
and  dew  claws  (the  rudimentary  toes  on  back  of  leg)  well  above 
the  ground.  A  strong,  well-sustained  pastern  is  important.  If 
the  foot  is  weak  and  the  pasterns  badly  depressed  the  animal 
shows  a  tendency  to  support  its  weight  improperly.  A  clean, 
smooth,  hard  bone,  with  strong,  yet  not  coarse  joints,  represents 
the  better  leg  development.  Too  fine  and  small  a  bone  is  often 
seen  with  pigs  when  they  really  should  have  a  heavier  bone  to 
properly  support  the  weight. 

The  back  and  lorn  of  the  American  type  of  pig  in  most  favor 
is  of  medium  length,  has  a  slight  arch  from  front  to  rear,  the 
ribs  are  well  sprung,  and  the  loin  is  broad  and  thick.  In  the  case 
of  breeding  stock  the  back  may  not  appear  wide,  although  feed- 
ing would  soon  give  it  considerable  breadth.  The  width  should 
be  carried  the  entire  length  from  shoulders  to  hips,  offering 
excellent  room  for  covering.  As  one  views  the  back  from  front 
or  rear,  the  width  is  carried  uniformly.  A  tapering  from  front  to 
rear  is  not  in  good  form,  indicating  heaviness  of  shoulder  and 
lightness  of  loin.  As  one  views  the  back  from  the  side,  it 
should  run  rather  parallel  with  the  lower  line.  A  droop  is 
quite  common,  but  this  is  the  result  of  a  weak  back  and 
so  is  objectionable. 


470 


THE  PIG 


The  hips,  rump,  and  ham  involve  the  highest-priced  meat  on 
the  modern  porker.  The  hips  should  be  neatly  placed  and  not 
prominent,  and  should  be  smoothly  covered  with  flesh.  The 
rump  has  a  tendency  to  be  droopy,  with  the  tail  set  low,  although 
good  form  calls  for  a  long,  broad,  somewhat  level  rump,  thick- 
fleshed,  with  the  tail  neatly  attached  fairly  well  up.  Below  the 
rump  the  hams  carry  down  fairly  straight  behind  or  with  some 
outward  curve,  then  rounding  into  the  lower  thigh  and  twist 
above  the  hocks.  A  high-class  ham  viewed  from  behind  is 
thick  at  the  edge  and  low  at  twist,  with  considerable  depth  from 
the  tail  to  the  point  where  the  hams  join  at  twist.  From  the  side 
the  relative  length  is  long  from  the  hip  point  to  lower  corner 
of  ham,  while  considerable  side  breadth  shows,  with  a  strong, 
well-turned  lower  thigh  and  hock  joint. 

The  hind  legs  in  natural  position  should  have  strong  hocks, 
wide  and  muscular,  yet  not  fat,  standing  well  apart  when  viewed 
from  the  rear,  so  that  the  legs  appear  quite  plumb  from  that 
point.  Viewed  from  the  side  the  hocks  should  seem  deep  and 
the  legs  below  carried  down  straight,  with  the  pig  standing 
strong  on  the  toes.  All  the  features  of  quality,  bone,  and 
strength  of  position  desirable  in  the  front  legs  are  equally  desir- 
able in  the  hind  legs. 

The  sides  from  shoulder  to  hind  flank  and  ham  require  a 
long,  well-arched  rib.  This  furnishes  a  body  of  ample  digestive 
or  breeding  capacity.  Not  only  should  the  sides  be  deep,  but  the 
lower  part  of  the  body  in  good  formation  will  be  wide,  thus  pre- 
serving a  good  line  from  front  to  hind  flank.  Such  a  body  as 
this,  full  and  thick  at  the  flanks,  is  associated  with  the  animal  of 
easy  fattening  power. 

The  fleshing  quality  of  the  pig  is  most  important.  If  an  animal 
is  well  fleshed,  the  back,  sides,  shoulders,  rump,  and  hams  will  be 
uniformly  covered  with  meat,  which  will  feel  mellow  yet  firm, 
and  not  harsh  and  hard  to  the  touch  of  the  hand.  The  skin  will 
be  free  of  scurviness  or  roughness,  and  wrinkles  will  be  quite 
lacking.  This  smoothness  of  covering  is  equally  essential  with 
the  fat  pig  or  breeding  animal.  Wrinkles  often  occur  about  the 
jowl  or  head  and  along  the  sides,  furnishing  decided  obstacles  to 
high-grade  work  in  dressing  the  carcass  at  slaughter. 


THE  AMERICAN  TYPE  OF  PIG  47 1 

The  hair  of  the  pig  indicates  quality.  A  reasonable  degree  of 
fineness  is  desirable,  this  being  associated  with  animals  that 
dress  out  well  in  killing.  Large,  coarse  bristles  go  with  heavy 
joints  and  much  bone  and  offal.  Curly  hair  is  often  seen  on  the 
pig,  but  straight  coats  are  more  popular.  The  hair  should  not 
only  be  of  good  quality  but  also  of  a  fair  degree  of  abundance. 

The  disposition  of  the  fat  type  of  pig  is  usually  quiet  and 
docile.  Among  individuals  of  the  same  breed,  those  which  flesh, 
up  most  readily  and  respond  to  feeding  quickest,  as  a  general 
thing  are  of  the  most  quiet  temperament.  It  is  doubtless  true 
also  that  the  American  breeds  of  swine  differ  to  some  extent 
in  disposition  and  easy  feeding  quality.  The  Poland-China  for 
example,  is  notable  for  its  quiet  and  phlegmatic  habits.  As 
feeding  progresses  and  the  animal  enters  the  fat  stage,  there  is 
a  natural  tendency  to  become  sluggish  and  sleep  a  great  deal. 
This  results  in  lack  of  vigor  and  strength  a-foot.  To  avoid  this, 
persons  who  fit  hogs  for  the  show  ring  compel  the  animals  to 
exercise  to  a  certain  extent  each  day  for  some  time  prior  to  and 
during  the  show  season.  The  more  active  temperament,  of 
some  breeds,  however,  notably  those  of  the  bacon  type,  do  not 
usually  require  any  special  exercise. 


CHAPTER  LXVI 

THE  BERKSHIRE 

The  native  home  of  the  Berkshire  pig  is  England,  and  more 
especially  the  counties  of  Berkshire  and  Wilts  in  the  south- 
central  part.  The  climate  is  mildly  temperate,  the  land  more 
or  less  undulating,  and  the  soil  quite  commonly  a  clay-loam,  and 
the  crops  the  small  grains,  roots,  and  grasses.  As  a  whole  the 
climate  is  very  favorable  to  swine  husbandry.  The  neighboring 
counties  of  Leicester  and  Stafford  have  also  been  prominently 
associated  with  the  development  of  the  breed. 

The  foundation  stock  of  the  early  Berkshire.  In  1789  Culley 
wrote  : 

The  most  numerous  breed  of  hogs  in  this  island  is  that  excellent  kind 
generally  known  by  the  name  of  the  Berkshire  pigs,  now  spread  through 
almost  every  part  of  England,  and  some  places  of  Scotland.  They  are 
in  general  reddish  brown,  with  black  spots  upon  them,  large  ears  hanging 
over  their  eyes,  short-legged,  small-boned,  and  exceedingly  inclined  to 
make  readily  fat. 

He  also  testifies  to  the  large  weight  of  the  breed,  and  mentions 
one  referred  to  by  Young  weighing  over  1 1 30"  pounds,  and  to 
another  still  larger.  Laurence,  in  1 790,  agrees  with  Culley  except- 
ing in  bone,  which  he  states  was  large,  while  he  also  adds  that 
the  muzzle  turned  up. 

The  early  improvement  of  the  Berkshire  was  due  to  the  use  of 
Chinese,  Siamese,  and  Neapolitan  blood.  In  1842  Professor  Low 
wrote : 

The  Berkshire  breed  has,  like  every  other,  been  crossed  and  recrossed 
with  the  Chinese,  or  Chinese  crosses,  so  as  to  lessen  the  size  of  the  animals 
and  render  them  more  suited  to  the  demand  which  has  arisen  for  small 
and  delicate  pork. 

This  crossing  was  regarded  as  necessary  to  prevent  degeneration 
in  shape  and  quality. 

472 


THE  BERKSHIRE 


473 


The  characteristics  of  the  old  type  of  Berkshire,  after  the  addi- 
tion of  foreign  blood,  were  greatly  improved.  About  1830  they 
were  classed  as  large,  and,  Youatt  says,  were  sandy  or  whitish 
brown,  spotted  regularly  with  dark  brown  or  black.  The  body 
was  free  of  bristles  and  was  covered  with  long,  thin,  and  some- 
what curly  hair.  The  ears  were  erect  and  fringed  with  long 
hair,  the  head  and  snout  were  short,  the  body  thick  and  com- 
pact, the  legs  short,  the  skin  thin,  the  flesh  of  good  flavor, 
and  the  bacon  superior.  At  this  time  the  breed  was  regarded  as 
one  of  the  best  in  England,  due  to  early  maturity,  easy  fatten- 
ing, small  bone,  hardiness,  and  the  prolificacy  of  the  females. 


Fig.  221.  Masterpiece  77000,  second-prize  Berkshire  boar  at  the  Louisiana 
Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Sold  by  A.  J.  Lovejoy  &  Son,  Roscoe,  Illinois, 
for  $2500  to  W.  S.  Corsa  of  Illinois.  One  of  the  most  famous  sires  of  to-day. 
Photograph  from  Professor  William  Dietrich,  Illinois  University 


According  to  various  early  authorities  there  must  have  been  con- 
siderable variation  in  color,  size,  and  type  of  the  early  Berkshire. 
Prominent  improvers  of  the  early  Berkshire  were  Richard 
Astley  of  Oldstonehall,  who  is  credited  by  Professor  Low  as 
being  the  great  improver  of  the  breed,  and  Lord  Barrington, 
who  died  in  1829.  Sidney,  who  was  a  leading  pig  authority,  in 
1 860  wrote  that  Lord  Barrington  did  a  great  deal  toward  improv- 
ing the  Berkshire  breed,  the  improved  stock  of  that  time  nearly 
all  tracing  back  to  his  herd.  The  methods  of  these  two  breeders 
do  not  seem  to  have  been  made  public,  and  little  is  known  of 


474  THE  PIG 

them.  A  half  century  ago  William  Hewer  of  Sevenhampton, 
Wiltshire,  was  a  leading  breeder  and  improver. 

Important  modern  improvers  of  the  Berkshire  in  England  as 
well  as  America  are  worthy  of  record  here.  In  England,  Russell 
Swanwick  at  Cirencester  and  the  late  Heber  Humfrey  at  Abing- 
don for  years  bred  with  signal  ability  and  did  much  for  the 
breed.  In  America  N.  H.  Gentry  of  Sedalia,  Missouri,  has  long 
held  a  most  distinguished  place  as  a  Berkshire  breeder.  In  a  list 
of  prominent  American  breeders  during  the  last  twenty-five  years 
of  the  nineteenth  century  high  place  should  be  accorded  to  the 
names  of  James  Riley  and  I.  N.  Barker  of  Indiana,  M.  K.  Prineof 
Iowa,  A.  J.  Lovejoy  of  Illinois,  and  J.  G.  Snell  of  Ontario,  Canada. 

The  introduction  of  the  Berkshire  pig  to  America  first  took  place 
in  1823,  according  to  A.  B.  Allen,  who  credits  John  Brentnall, 


Fig.  222.  Lyneham  Lad,  first-prize  aged  Berkshire  boar  at  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  Sir 
Alexander  Henderson.  Photograph  from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews, 
Berkhamsted,  England 

an  English  farmer,  who  settled  in  the  English  neighborhood  in 
New  Jersey,  with  this  importation.  In  1832  Sidney  Hawes, 
another  English  farmer,  brought  some  Berkshires  to  America 
and  settled  near  Albany,  New  York.  Allen  states  that  he  owned 
pigs  descended  from  each  of  these  importations.    In  1838  a  few 


THE  BERKSHIRE 


475 


pigs  of  the  breed  were  imported  to  Canada.  In  1839  Messrs. 
Bagg  and  Wait,  English  farmers  who  had  settled  in  Orange 
County,  New  York,  made  a  large  importation,  and  this  firm  made 
several  other  importations  later  on.  In  184 1  A.  B.  Allen  brought 
over  forty  head  after  carefully  examining  British  herds,  and  later 
made  other  importations  and  did  much  to  popularize  the  breed. 


Fig.  223.  University  Lee  72621,  second-prize  Berkshire  boar  in  class  over  six 
and  under  twelve  months  at  the  Ohio  State  Fair,  1902.  Sire  of  the  grand- 
champion  pen  of  barrows  at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition, 
1905.  Bred  by  J.  M.  Hodson  of  Ohio,  and  used  in  the  herd  of  the  Ohio 
State  University.    Photograph  by  the  author 

The  Berkshire  soon  moved  west.  In  1835  a  boar  and  sow  were 
brought  to  Butler  County,  Ohio,  from  Albany,  New  York,  while 
the  Bagg  and  Wait  importations  soon  found  a  market  in  Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee,  Missouri,  and  the  South. 

Important  families  of  Berkshire  pigs  are  worthy  of  note. 
Among  these  are  the  Duchess,  of  which  Royal  Duchess  900  by 
Othello  259  is  the  founder;  the  Sallie,  descended  from  Sallie  I 
by  Duke  of  Gloucester  I ;  the  Charmer,  descended  from  Royal 
Charmer  9082  by  Exor  3891  ;  the  Lee,  descended  from  Minnie 
Lee  14606  by  Exor  3891  ;  the  Nora,  descended  from  Nora  B. 
14052  by  Liverpool  Bob  104 17.  In  these  families  will  be  found 
the  names  of  many  of  the  most  illustrious  animals  of  the  breed 
that  have  lived  in  America. 


476 


THE  PIG 


Famous  Berkshire  boars  in  the  history  of  the  breed  in  America 
make  up  an  extended  list.  Among  those  prominent  mainly  for 
their  influence  on  the  breed  are  Othello  259,  Lord  Liverpool 
221,  Charmer's  Duke  13360,  Longfellow  16835,  Baron  Lee  IV 
33446,  Lord  Premier  50001,  Governor  Lee  47971,  Combination 
56028,  Royal  Windsor  22889,  Model  Duke  17397,  Columbia's 
Duke  33855,  and  Masterpiece  77000.  Of  these  Longfellow  is 
regarded  by  many  as  the  most  distinguished  sire  of  all,  the 
greatest  Berkshire  boar  that  was  ever  bred  in  America,  in  his 
overshadowing  influence  on  the  breed. 

Characteristics  of  the  Berkshire  pig.  The  face  of  the  modern 
Berkshire  should  be  of  medium  length  and  gracefully  dished  ; 
excessive  dish  of  face  is  not  to  be  encouraged.  The  ears  are 
carried  erect  or  pointed  slightly  forward,  often  drooping  consider- 
ably with  age.  The  typical  Berkshire  back  is  not  so  broad  as  that 
of  the  Poland-China,  but  is  quite  level  and  of  moderate  breadth, 
with  considerable  length  of  side,  the  ribs  being  fairly  arched  and 
long.  The  rump  should  be  rather  long  and  level,  with  the  tail 
set  high,  though  there  is  some  tendency  to  shortness  and  droop- 
iness.  In  the  correct  type  the  entire  back  outline  shows  less  arch 
than  is  characteristic  of  some  of  the  other  breeds,  with  square- 
ness at  the  hind  quarter.  The  jowl  is  only  moderately  full,  the 
shoulders  of  medium  thickness  and  breadth,  and  the  hams  rather 
deep  and  thick,  well  turned  in  the  twist,  though  not  excessively 
so.  The  legs  should  be  fairly  short,  though  frequently  individuals 
are  too  leggy.  The  bone  is  of  fair  quality,  and  Berkshires  prob- 
ably stand  as  well  on  their  feet  as  any  of  the  breeds  of  to-day. 

The  color  of  the  Berkshire  has  changed  somewhat  from  early 
times.  A  black  body  generally,  with  a  white  streak  in  the  face, 
more  or  less  white  on  the  tail,  and  four  white  feet  make  up  the 
"  six  white  points  "  generally  characteristic  of  the  breed.  White 
frequently  occurs,  however,  on  the  jowl  or  on  the  front  arm  or 
at  the  armpit  by  the  shoulder.  These  colors  need  not  occur  in 
this  exact  degree,  and  if  a  white  spot  occur  on  the  body  else- 
where, there  is  no  clause  to  disqualify  in  the  American  Berk- 
shire Herdbook.  The  color  markings  of  English  show  Berkshires 
were  studied  by  Mr.  Heber  Humfrey  some  years  ago  at  the 
Royal  Show  at  Windsor.    Quoting  from  Mr.  Humfrey's  report : 


THE  BERKSHIRE 


477 


We  examined  every  Berkshire  in  the  show.  Taking  them  at  all  ages, 
there  were  139  animals.  We  took  the  generally  accepted  standard  of  "four 
white  feet,  white  tip  of  tail,  more  or  less  white  in  face,  and  a  little  or  not, 
as  the  case  may  be,  under  the  jowl,  on  the  point  of  the  elbow,  or  inside  the 
ear,"  and  we  found  on  looking  through  our  notes  that  we  had  marked  1 19 
down  as  within  the  limits  of  this  standard.  Only  half  a  dozen  were  described 
as  having  serious  defects  in  the  marking;  the  remaining  14  had  only  a 
single  small  spot,  generally  on  the  shoulder  or  between  the  ears  ;  one  or  two 
were  on  the  sides,  but  several  of  them  not  large  enough  to  attract  notice  if 
we  had  not  been  looking  for  them.  Out  of  the  half  dozen  which  we  thought 
might  be  ruled  out  of  competition,  only  one  had  a  second  objection :  this 
was  a  spot  on  the  front  and  another  on  the  back  of  the  ham  ;  the  second 
had  a  large  sandy  and  white  spot  on  the  bottom  of  the  shoulder  ;  a  third 
had  a  black  foot  ;  Nos.  4  and  5  had  black  tails,  and  the  6th  a  white  ear. 

The  writer  knows  of  a  registered  boar  in  service  with  a  white 
spot  of  three  inches  diameter  on  the  back,  and  within  recent 
years  has  seen  a  boar  in  the  show  ring  and  in  service  with  hair 
noticeably  tinted  copper  color.  While  these  are  only  fancy 
points,  uniformity  of  breeding  would  be  promoted  by  the  adop- 
tion of  fixed  standards  of  color  markings,  disqualifying  when  the 
color  fell  without  the  limitations.  The  British  Berkshire  Society 
in  1893  suggested  that  judges  disqualify  pigs  notably  irregular 
in  marking  or  with  black  face  or  foot. 

The  size  of  the  Berkshire  pig  may  by  classed  as  medium  to 
large.  In  1842  Low  wrote  that  "  the  true  Berkshires  are  of  the 
larger  races  of  swine."    In  1893  Professor  Long  wrote  : 

Thirty  years  ago  .  .  .  some  of  Mr.  Sadler's  prize  pigs  under  seven  months 
old  weighed  240  pounds  each,  although  they  were  turned  out  into  an  orchard 
daily  while  fattening.  The  same  gentleman  exhibited,  and  won  the  first 
prize  at  Baker  Street  with  a  fat  pig  which  weighed  856  pounds,  the  length 
of  her  body  being  6  feet  4  inches  and  her  girth  7  feet  6  inches.  At  that 
time,  however,  the  ordinary  weight  of  a  well-bred  Berkshire  bacon  hog  was, 
when  ready  for  the  butcher,  about  50  stone  of  8  pounds  (400  pounds),  but  for 
the  curing  of  the  best  hams  these  were  generally  considered  a  little  too  large. 

The  Berkshire  is  often  advertised  under  the  name  "  Large  Eng- 
lish Berkshire,"  but  in  England  but  one  Berkshire  breed  exists, 
and  the  title  "  Large  English"  is  rather  uncalled  for  and  some- 
what misleading.  Young  pigs  at  six  months  old  should  easily 
weigh  175  pounds,  and  at  one  year  about  300  pounds.  The 
ordinary  mature  boar  in  breeding  condition  should  weigh   500 


478  THE  PIG 

pounds,  and  the  sows  400  pounds.  Lord  Premier  50001  at  seven 
years  old  weighed  890  pounds,  King  Lee  27500  at  ten  months 
weighed  420  pounds,  while  the  famous  Longfellow  16835  at  17 
months  weighed  726  pounds. 

The  adaptability  of  the  Berkshire  to  environment  is  of  the  first 
class.  The  breed  is  found  growing  successfully  and  meeting 
with  favor  in  the  colder,  more  northerly  sections  of  America, 
where  the  winters  are  severe,  and  in  the  warmer  southwest  and 


Fig.  224.  A  yearling  Berkshire  sow,  a  prize  winner  at  the  Toronto  Exposi- 
tion, 1905.  Owned  by  William  Wilson,  Brampton,  Ontario.  Photograph 
from  Professor  G.  E.  Day 

more  temperate  regions.  Walker,  however,  in  discussing  the 
adaptability  of  the  Berkshire  to  climate  says  : 

As  far  as  our  own  actual  experience  goes,  Berkshires  do  not  prove  nearly 
so  profitable  in  the  north  of  England  and  in  Scotland  as  in  the  south,  and 
this  harmonizes  with  our  remark  that  they  love  warmth  and  a  genial  clime. 

In  spite  of  this  opinion  it  is  doubtless  true  that  no  breed  of 
swine  is  bred  and  fed  under  more  varied  conditions  with  the 
success  that  is  attained  with  the  Berkshire. 

The  early-maturing  qualities  of  the  Berkshire  are  very  good. 
There  are  those,  however,  including  the  author,  who  do  not  give 
them  first  rank  in  this  respect.  Individual  Berkshires  may  fatten 
rapidly  and  mature  early,  but  in  a  broad  comparison  of  breed 


THE  BERKSHIRE  479 

maturity  the  Poland-China  would  have  the  advantage,  while  many 
would  accord  first  place  to  the  Duroc-Jersey  and  Chester  White. 
The  Berkshire  as  a  grazing  pig  ranks  high  wherever  fairly 
tried.  On  the  clover  fields  of  the  middle  West  they  thrive  to 
perfection,  while  rape  pasture  in  the  more  northerly  sections 
seems  well  suited  to  them.  In  general  pasturage  in  America 
Berkshires  quite  hold  their  own.  Writing  of  the  Berkshires  as 
foragers,  Walker  states  that  they  are  hardly  surpassed  so  long 
as  in  a  temperate  climate.    He  says  : 

You  may  see  herds  of  a  score  or  two  each,  any  year  towards  October, 
running  over  the  wide  stubble  fields  on  the  borders  of  Wiltshire,  nearly 
average  pork,  and  yet  they  have  made  their  growth  and  their  flesh  pretty 
much  on  waste  material,  i.e.  shed  corn,  weeds,  roots,  pasturage,  and  so  on. 

The  Berkshire  as  a  feeder  and  fattener  has  had  extensive  trial 
both  in  Europe  and  in  America.  In  the  records  made  a  high  place 
has  been  accorded  the  breed.  Numerous  American  experimental 
stations  have  used  pigs  of  the  breed  in  feeding  experiments  from 
which  the  following  records  are  quoted.  In  23  trials,  involving 
123  Berkshires  fed  at  eight  institutions  in  the  United  States 
and  Canada,  it  required  369  pounds  of  feed  for  each  100  pounds 
of  gain  in  live  weight,  the  Tamworth,  Chester  White,  and  Poland- 
China  surpassing  the  Berkshire  in  this  respect.  In  breed  tests 
at  the  Iowa  Experiment  Station  the  Berkshire  made  an  average 
daily  gain  of  .98  pound,  the  Poland-China  .90,  and  the  Chester 
White  .89  pound,  the  cost  per  100  pounds  gain  being  $2.33, 
$2.23,  and  $2.46  respectively.  At  the  Ontario  Agricultural  Col- 
lege the  average  of  trials  for  four  years  show  almost  identically 
the  same  daily  gains,  requiring  a  less  amount  of  meal  than  any 
other  breed,  that  is,  378!  pounds  for  100  pounds  of  gain.  At 
the  Massachusetts  Experiment  Station  seven  Berkshires,  fed  140 
days,  made  an  average  daily  gain  of  1.16  pounds  each,  requiring 
289  pounds  of  feed  for  100  pounds  gain.  From  the  records 
quoted  above  or  published  elsewhere  it  may  be  seen  that  the 
Berkshire  as  a  feeder  ranks  well,  though  the  average  of  breed 
trials  do  not  give  it  first  place.  Among  British  authorities  on 
swine  Professor  Long  takes  high  rank,  and  in  his  Book  of  the  Pig 
he  writes  of  "its  comparative  slowness  as  a  feeder,"  and  says 
that  it  is  generally  found  that  a  fast-feeding  Berkshire  has  not 


480 


THE  PIG 


only  alien  blood  in  its  veins,  but  that,  when  killed,  it  exhibits  far 
too  large  a  proportion  of  fat. 

The  quality  of  Berkshire  pork,  viewed  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  American  market,  is  of  the  very  best  class.  Fed  in  the  same 
manner,  in  comparison  with  the  Poland-China,  Chester  White, 
and  Duroc-Jersey,  the  Berkshire  will  show  a  class  of  meat  with 
a  larger  percentage  of  lean  than  any  of  them.  In  feeding  experi- 
ments conducted  by  the  author  at  the  Indiana  station,  in  a  com- 
parison of  Berkshires  and  Poland-Chinas  bearing  on  the  influence 
of  food  on  carcass,  the  larger  percentage  of  lean  to  fat  in  the 


Fig.  225.  A  pure-bred  Berkshire  barrow,  bred  by  the  Ohio  State  Uni- 
versity, one  of  the  grand-champion  pen  at  the  International  Live 
Stock  Exposition,  Chicago,  1905.    Photograph  by  the  author 


Berkshire  was  strikingly  shown.  The  meat  of  this  breed  has  a 
fine  grain  and,  when  not  all  corn  fed,  a  desirable  blending  of  fat 
and  lean.  In  certain  localities  where  select  sausages  are  made 
Berkshire  pork  has  been  relied  upon  for  securing  superior  quality. 
Where  properly  fed  this  breed  makes  a  bacon  pig  of  high  class, 
and  is  so  regarded  in  Great  Britain,  though  it  may  not  be  the 
equal  of  the  Large  Yorkshire  or  Tamworth  in  this  respect. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Berkshire,  where  fair  samples  of  pigs 
are  used  in  breeding,  merit  high  praise.  A  cross  of  Berkshire 
boar  on  Poland-China  sows  produces  offspring  that  feed  rapidly 
and  sell  well,  the  two  breeds  blending  admirably.  This  cross 
gives   more   vigor  and  a   better   feeder.     Also   a   cross   of   the 


THE  BERKSHIRE 


481 


Berkshire  on  the  Chester  White  female  is  productive  of  a  better 
feeder  than  the  sire,  with  a  class  of  pork  superior  to  that  of  the 
dam.  The  great  value  of  the  Berkshire  in  crossing  is  amply 
demonstrated  from  the  fact  that  the  blood  of  the  breed  has  been 
used  to  improve  that  of  other  breeds  for  over  a  century,  and  no 
doubt  has  done  much  to  help  the  most  prominent  breeds  of 
to-day  in  their  early  stages.  Sidney  states  that  Fisher  Hobbs, 
who  did  much  in  improving  British  pigs,  used  the  Berkshire  as 
a  cross  on  his  Essex  pigs,  and  thereby  size  and  condition  were 
materially  affected.  In  fact,  so  strong  was  the  Berkshire  influ- 
ence that  some  twenty-eight  years  after  the  cross  was  made  some 


Fig.  226.  Three  pure-bred  Berkshires,  the  pen  of  grand-champion  barrows 
over  all  pure-breds,  grades,  and  crosses  at  the  International  Live  Stock 
Exposition,  Chicago,  1905.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  the  Ohio  State  Uni- 
versity.   Photograph  by  the  author 

of  the  young  Essex  reverted  to  their  alien  ancestor,  and  were,  in 
reality,  exact  types  of  the  true  Berkshire  pig.  Mr.  W.  H.  Wykes, 
an  experienced  breeder,  according  to  Long,  finds  that  the  best 
crosses  are  made  by  the  Berkshire  on  the  Black  Suffolk  and  the 
Tamworth.  The  value  of  the  Berkshire  boar  in  grading  up  a  herd 
is  unquestioned.  Feeders  of  such  blood  always  command  the 
top  market  price  in  America. 

The  fecundity  and  prolificacy  of  the  Berkshire  is  of  a  fair  degree 
of  merit.  An  extensive  study  of  the  relative  prolificacy  of  three 
breeds  of  swine  (the  Berkshire,  Poland-China,  and  Chester  White) 
by  Dr.  A.  W.  Bitting  shows  that  the  average  size  of  400  Berk- 
shire litters  was  8.22  pigs,  while  600  Chester  White  litters 
averaged  8.96  pigs  and  1086  Poland-China  litters  averaged 
7.45.    These  records  were  based  on  herdbook  figures  of  sizes 


482  THE  PIG 

of  litters.  There  are  many  large  litters  of  Berkshire  pigs,  and 
litters  of  ten  are  not  uncommon.  Walker  states  that  about  seven 
or  eight  at  a  farrow  are  reckoned  an  average  family  for  even  the 
older  sows.  William  Ashcroft,  a  successful  English  breeder,  is 
quoted  by  Professor  Long  as  saying  that  the  tendency  to  pro- 
duce medium  litters,  of  say  six  to  eight,  may  be  corrected  by 
breeding  less  closely.  "  If  unrelated  stock  pigs  are  used,"  says 
Ashcroft,  "the  litters  will  come  pretty  regularly  twice  a  year, 
and  average  about  eight  to  eleven."  In  the  United  States  the 
tendency  with  the  heavily  corn-fed  sow  is  to  produce  smaller 
litters  than  would  be  the  case  with  a  less-fattening  diet.  In 
general  the  Berkshire  is  not  lacking  in  fecundity.  As  nurses 
and  mothers  the  sows  may  be  regarded  as  in  the  first  class. 

The  prepotency  of  the  Berkshire  is  of  high  merit.  Being  one 
of  the  oldest  breeds,  long  bred  with  care,  its  prepotency  has 
become  well  established.  No  breed  of  swine  has  a  more  beauti- 
ful conformation,  and  where  bred  pure  this  is  easily  transmitted 
from  generation  to  generation. 

The  style  and  finish  of  the  Berkshire  are  worthy  of  comment. 
By  many  it  is  rightly  regarded  as  the  aristocrat  of  the  swine 
family.  The  symmetrical  outline,  with  pricked-up  ear  and  well- 
turned  head,  give  an  attractive  finish  and  style  which  assists 
materially  in  making  this  breed  popular  with  many  people. 

The  distribution  of  the  Berkshire  pig  is  very  widespread.  It  is 
found  in  various  parts  of  England,  although  more  generally  in  the 
south  section.  It  is  also  found  to  some  extent  in  Scotland,  Wales, 
and  Ireland.  On  the  continent  of  Europe  the  breed  is  not  so  com- 
mon, although  it  has  been  more  or  less  exported  to  the  various 
European  countries.  In  the  British  provinces  of  Canada  and 
Australasia  the  Berkshire  is  common.  In  the  United  States  no 
breed  is  more  widely  distributed  than  this,  and  it  is  generally 
found  all  over  the  Union,  although  it  is  perhaps  most  common 
in  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Wiscon- 
sin, Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Missouri. 

Organizations  for  the  promotion  of  the  Berkshire  pig  exist  in 
England  and  the  United  States.  The  American  Berkshire 
Swine  Breeders'  Association  was  organized  in  1875  at  Spring- 
field,  Illinois,  since  which  time  to  January,    1906,   twenty-five 


THE  BERKSHIRE  483 

herdbooks  have  been  published,  including  the  registration  of 
90,000  pigs.  The  National  Berkshire  Record  Association  was 
organized  March  1,  1893,  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  This  society 
up  to  1905  had  published  seven  herdbooks,  including  the  regis- 
tration of  about  9000  animals.  This  organization  is  now  defunct. 
The  British  Berkshire  Herdbook,  published  by  the  British  Berk- 
shire Society,  first  appeared  in  1885.  Twenty  volumes  have  thus 
far  appeared,  registering  about  10,000  animals. 

High  prices  for  Berkshire  pigs  have  been  paid  to  a  limited 
degree.  In  1889  Mr.  N.  H.  Gentry  sold  the  yearling  boar 
Model  Duke  17397  at  private  sale  to  Andrew  Smith  of  Cali- 
fornia for  $750.  Mr.  Gentry  paid  $700  for  Lord  Liverpool  221 
in  England,  and  states  that  he  sold  about  $7000  worth  of  his 
direct  offspring,  and  also  received  about  $1500  in  cash  for  his 
services  on  sows  sent  him  by  breeders  from  all  over  the  country. 
Along  in  the  seventies  the  boar  Robin  Hood  801  was  sold 
for  $1400  by  T.  S.  Cooper  of  Pennsylvania  to  W.  C.  Norton  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  three-year-old  boar  Columbia's  Duke  33855 
sold  at  the  Reuben  Gentry  auction  on  November  16,  1898,  at 
Springfield,  Illinois,  for  $1200  to  Berry  &  Juneman  of  Barclay, 
Illinois,  the  highest  price  ever  paid  at  auction  for  a  Berkshire 
pig  up  to  that  time.  In  1903  Mr.  G.  C.  Council  of  Illinois  paid 
Mr.  N.  H.  Gentry  $1500  for  the  boar  Lord  Premier  50001  by 
Baron  Lee  IV  33446.  This  boar  died  in  1905,  after  which  Mr. 
Council  bought  Premier  Longfellow  68600  of  Mr.  Gentry  for 
$2000.  In  1905  Mr.  A.  J.  Lovejoy  of  Illinois  sold  the  boar 
Masterpiece  77000  to  W.  S.  Corsa  of  the  same  state  for  $2500. 
In  the  summer  of  1906  James  Qurollo  of  Missouri  sold  to  F.  W. 
Morgan  of  Wisconsin  the  Berkshire  boar  Lord  Bacon  87415  for 
$3000.  This  boar  was  sired  by  Speculator  80081,  a  son  of 
Masterpiece.  On  August  29,  1906,  at  the  auction  sale  of  G.  C. 
Council  of  Illinois,  the  boar  Lord  Premier's  Rival  92805  sold 
for  $3200  to  I.  L.  Weirick  of  the  same  state.  Lord  Premier  2d 
92708  at  the  Council  sale  was  sold  to  Overton  Hall  Farm  of 
Tennessee  for  $1600,  the  highest  price  yet  paid  for  a  Berkshire 
under  12  months  of  age.  Many  Berkshire  pigs  have  changed 
hands  at  $100  to  $500  per  head. 


CHAPTER   LXVII 

THE  POLAND-CHINA 

The  locality  in  which  the  Poland-China  pig  originated  is  in 
Butler  and  Warren  counties  in  southwestern  Ohio.  This  is  an 
undulating  region  with  a  prevailing  clay-loam  soil,  excepting  in 
the  river  bottom.  The  Great  Miami  flows  through  Butler 
County,  the  valley  of  which  is  twelve  miles  wide  and  very  fertile. 
The  Little  Miami  River  drains  the  greater  part  of  Warren 
County.  Corn,  wheat,  oats,  grass,  and  clover  are  grown  exten- 
sively in  these  two  counties,  which  cover  about  850  square 
miles.  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  and  Union  and  Wayne  coun- 
ties in  Indiana  were  also  associated  with  early  Poland-China 
development.  All  these  five  counties  are  grouped  together.  The 
climate  is  fairly  temperate  both  summer  and  winter,  typical  of 
the  central  West,  east  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  origin  of  the  Poland-China  pig  is  not  clearly  understood. 
In  the  past  considerable  discussion  has  taken  place  concerning 
the  accuracy  of  statement  of  various  persons  regarding  the  blood 
used  in  the  early  days  of  the  formation  of  the  breed.  Radical 
difference  of  opinion  has  existed  on  this  point.  In  important 
essentials  the  history  of  the  establishment  of  the  breed  is  very 
well  understood. 

The  early  breeds  or  types  of  swine  of  the  Miami  Valley  were 
known  as  the  Warren  County  pig,  the  Russian,  Byfield,  Big 
China,  Irish  Grazier,  and  Berkshire.  Each  of  these  and  perhaps 
others  assisted  in  forming  the  Poland-China  breed.  Previous  to 
1 8 16  two  breeds  were  known  in  the  Miami  Valley,  the  Russian 
or  Russia  and  the  Byfield. 

The  Russian  pig  is  described  as  generally  white,  with  long, 
coarse  hair,  a  long  and  coarse  head,  with  a  narrower  ear  than 
the  common  pigs  of  the  region  had.  The  breed  possessed  a 
superior  length  and  height,  the  bone  was  large  and  fine,   and 

484 


THE  POLAND-CHINA  485 

the  pigs  stood  well  on  their  feet,  and  were  quiet  of  temperament. 
These  pigs  sometimes  reached  large  size. 

The  Byfield  pig  was  of  two  types,  both  being  white  in  color. 
One  was  very  large,  with  long,  flat  sides  and  heavy,  lopped  ears  ; 
the  other  was  more  refined,  with  small  ears  pointing  noseward, 
with  broad  back,  deep  chest,  large  jowl,  short  nose,  dish  face, 
and  thin  hair. 

Previous  to  18 16  the  Russian  and  Byfield  breeds  were  very 
generally  bred  and  their  blood  mingled  with  the  common  pigs 
of  the  community. 

The  Big  China  breed  of  pigs  was  introduced  into  the  Miami 
Valley  in  18 16,  one  boar  and  three  sows  having  been  brought 
from  Philadelphia  by  John  Wallace,  a  trustee  of  the  Shakers' 


Fig.  227.  Globe  Perfection,  first-prize  Poland-China  boar  in  the  yearling  class 
at  the  Ohio  State  Fair,  1905.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  Edward  Klever  & 
Mather,  Bloomingburg,  Ohio.    Photograph  by  the  author 

Society  of  Union  Village,  Warren  County,  whose  members  had 
much  to  do  with  the  development  of  the  Poland-China  breed. 
The  boar  and  two  sows  were  white,  while  one  sow  had  some 
sandy  spots  in  which  were  small  black  spots.  This  was  a 
medium-sized  breed  of  unknown  ancestry,  of  fine  form,  small 
head  and  ears,  short  legs  and  fine  bone,  and  superior  feeding 
qualities.    Shepard  thinks  this  may  have  been  the  Grass  breed 


486  THE  PIG 

known  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  or  Pennsylvania,  or  the  Bedford  or 
Parkinson  hog.  Used  on  the  Russian  and  Byfield  crosses  the 
Big  China  produced  very  superior  feeders  and  much  improved 
the  character  of  Miami  Valley  pigs,  resulting  in  what  became 
widely  and  favorably  known  as  the  Warren  County  hog.  Between 
1816  and  1835  the  swine  industry  of  southwestern  Ohio  had  a 
great  impetus,  due  to  the  beneficial  effects  of  this  cross. 

The  Berkshire  as  an  element  in  Poland-China  evolution  first 
attracted  attention  in  1835,  when  Munson  Beach  of  Lebanon, 
Warren  County,  introduced  some  pigs  of  this  breed  from  New 
York  State.  These  Berkshires  had  erect  ears,  were  stylish  in 
appearance,  and  at  once  met  with  much  favor.  Others  soon  in- 
troduced Berkshires,  and  up  to  1842  they  were  extensively  used 
on  the  Miami  Valley  pigs.  The  Berkshire  gave  more  symmetry, 
greater  activity,  more  quality,  and  the  black  color  to  the  Warren 
County  hog. 

The  Irish  Grazier  as  a  factor  in  Poland-China  history  was  in- 
troduced into  Warren  County  by  William  Neff  of  Cincinnati,  who 
imported  from  Ireland  in  the  fall  of  1839.  This  was  a  white, 
thinly-haired  hog,  varying  somewhat  in  size  and  type.  The  Neff 
stock  had  an  erect  ear,  a  long  body  with  superior  back,  excellent 
legs,  and  very  fine  hams.  For  several  years  Irish  Grazier  stock 
was  mingled  with  the  Miami  Valley  mixture,  but  the  pure-bred 
stock  soon  became  extinct,  not,  however,  until  it  had  assisted  in 
the  improvement  of  the  Warren  County  hog.  Mr.  Cephas  Hol- 
loway,  who  from  18 13  for  very  many  years  lived  in  the  Shaker 
community  at  Union  Village,  stated  that  "the  two  breeds  —  the 
Berkshires  and  Irish  Graziers  —  were  extensively  used  in  mak- 
ing crosses  by  our  best  breeders  of  swine  in  Warren,  Butler, 
Hamilton,  Clinton,  and  Montgomery  counties."  In  1871  Mr. 
Tytus,  an  extensive  pork  packer  from  1836  to  i860,  said,  "The 
Warren  County  breed  was  greatly  improved  by  crossing  with 
the  Berkshire  and  Irish  Grazier."  From  1845,  at  least,  up  to 
the  present  time,  it  is  claimed,  no  foreign  blood  has  been  used 
in  the  development  of  the  Warren  County  pig,  or  what  later 
became  known  as  the  Po/aiid-China. 

The  adoption  of  the  name  Poland-China  has  an  important  his- 
tory.   The  name  "Poland"  or  "Poland  and  China"  had  been  given 


THE  POLAND-CHINA  487 

to  herds  of  Miami  Valley  pigs  by  certain  breeders  as  early  as 
along  in  the  sixties.  Mr.  Ayers  McCreary  and  Mr.  D.  M.  Magie 
claimed  that  their  pigs  were  a  combination  of  Poland  and  Big 
China  blood.  Mr.  A.  C.  Moore  of  Illinois,  who  formerly  lived 
in  Ohio,  also  termed  his  pigs  Poland  and  Chinas.  These  men 
in  particular,  and  some  others,  claimed  that  a  Poland  breed  of 
pigs  had  been  used,  presumably  introduced  to  America  by  Polish 
settlers.  Much  controversy  developed  over  the  accuracy  of  the 
claim  that  such  a  breed  as  Poland  had  ever  been  used  in  Warren 
County.  More  or  less  investigation  followed,  and  no  satisfactory 
evidence  seemed  to  support  the  claim.  Evidence  was  secured, 
however,  to  show  that  in  one  neighborhood  an  individual  used 
the  word  Poland  "  to  designate  the  progeny  of  a  particular  ani- 
mal that  had  been  obtained  from  Asher  Asher,  who  was  a  Polan- 
der  by  birth  and  who  many  years  ago  resided  for  a  time  in  Butler 
County,  some  five  or  six  miles  south  of  Monroe."  After  an 
investigation  of  this  subject  of  origin  of  the  breed  a  committee 
reported  to  the  National  Swine  Breeders'  Convention  at  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana,  in  November,  1872,  on  the  origin  of  the  Poland- 
China  breed,  and  the  report  was  accepted.  In  this  report  no 
recognition  was  given  to  the  influence  of  Poland  blood,  but 
the  committee  recommended  that  "in  view  of  the  difficulties 
in  making  a  change  in  the  name  of  any  breed,  that  the  said 
name  of  Poland-China  be  recognized  as  the  accepted  name  of 
said  breed." 

The  improvers  of  the  Poland-China  pig  in  the  earlier  days  of 
its  development  represented  numerous  intelligent  farmers  and 
stockmen  particularly  in  the  Miami  Valley.  The  Shakers  of  Union 
Village  in  Warren  County  were  most  prominent  in  this  work, 
and  the  herds  of  various  breeders  who  later  obtained  distinction 
traced  back  to  Shaker  breeding.  John  Harkrader  of  Springboro, 
Warren  County,  who  has  been  classed  as  one  of  the  originators 
of  the  breed,  developed  a  herd  generally  recognized  as  being 
of  great  merit,  from  which  descended  much  prepotent  blood. 
Most  prominent  among  the  promoters  of  the  breed  forty  years 
ago  were  D.  M.  Magie  of  Oxford,  Butler  County,  Ohio,  who  claims 
to  have  originated  the  Poland-China ;  Alexander  Young  and 
James  Duffield  of  Somerville  and  John  Irvin  of  Darrtown,  all  of 


488  THE  PIG 

Butler  County,  Ohio  ;  and  A.  C.  Moore  of  Canton,  Illinois.  Magie 
and  Moore  extensively  advertised  the  breed  and  did  much  to 
bring  it  before  the  public.  The  herds  of  L.  N.  Bonham,  estab- 
lished at  Oxford  in  1871  ;  of  Edward  and  J.  M.  Klever  at 
Bloomingburg,  established  in  1873  ;  of  James  Hankinson,  Car- 
lisle Station,  established  in  1870;  of  W.  C.  Hankinson  at  Blue 
Ball,  established  in  1857  or  1858  ;  of  J.  Douthett  at  Xenia, 
Greene  County,  established  in  1863  ;  and  of  Noah  Coler  &  Son  at 
Liberty,  established  in  1868,  were  prominent  among  the  Ohio 
herds  of  influence  thirty  years  or  more  ago. 

Poland-China  sows  of  note  date  back  many  years.  The  fol- 
lowing were  early  foundation  sows  :  Bessy  Pugh  88,  Lady  Pugh 
5  16,  Lady  Rue  518,  Old  Warner  Sow  714,  Queen  Duffield  804, 
Queen  of  Black  Bess  Tribe  808,  White  Bess  1000,  and  White 
Face  1002.  In  addition  to  these  early  ones  of  special  promi- 
nence are  F's  Black  Bess  304,  foundress  of  the  noted  Black 
Bess  family  ;  The  Old  Harkrader  Sow  950  ;  Graceful  1554,  foun- 
dress of  the  Graceful  family;  Beauty  2558,  dam  of  Tecumseh 
4339  and  foundress  of  the  Tecumseh  family;  Cora  Shellen- 
berger  2880,  dam  of  Success  1999,  a  famous  sire  ;  Lady  Duffield 
3776,  dam  of  Tom  Corvvin  2d  2037,  foundress  of  the  Corwin 
family ;  Bess  Stribbens  1 168,  foundress  of  the  U.  S.  family  ; 
Sunshine  96140,  dam  of  the  noted  Ohio  boar  Ideal  Sunshine 
37885  ;  Bessie  Wilkes  80820,  dam  of  Chief  Perfection  32199, 
the  head  of  the  Perfection  family;  and  Galena  99316,  a  famous 
show  and  brood  sow  of  recent  years.  Much  of  the  best  Poland- 
China  blood  traces  back- to  The  Old  Harkrader  Sow  950. 

Poland-China  boars  of  note  make  up  a  long  list.  Especially 
prominent  among  these  as  great  sires  are  Alex  No.  1,  Butler  93, 
John  3d  311,  World  Beater  12 13,  Perfection  447,  Young  Per- 
fection 631,  Old  Sweepstakes  253,  Success  1999,  Tom  Corwin 
2d  2037,  Give  or  Take  1 585-1667,  Tecumseh  4339,  Ideal 
Black  U.  S.  29505,  Ideal  Sunshine  37885,  Chief  Perfection 
39931,  and  Chief  Perfection  2d  42559  A-45395.  The  last-named 
is  regarded  by  many  as  the  greatest  Poland-China  sire  in  the 
history  of  the  breed.  Farrowed  in  1896,  he  was  still  in  active 
service  in  1905,  with  a  long  list  of  distinguished  progeny  and 
their  descendants. 


THE  POLAND-CHINA  489 

Of  more  recent  boars  the  following  are  quite  celebrated  ani- 
mals :  Perfect  Perfection  80971,  Thickset  71221,  Perfection  I 
Know  77521,  Perfection  E.  L.  71635,  and  High  Roller  84255. 

Characteristics  of  the  Poland-China  pig.  The  head  is  of  medium 
length  and  breadth  in  good  specimens,  with  a  rather  full  jowl 
below.  The  face  is  classed  as  straight,  the  nose  and  space  from 
below  the  eyes  to  nostrils  being  free  of  dishing.  The  cheeks  tend 
to  be  rounding  and  full  and  frequently  are  somewhat  seamed. 
The  ears  should  be  fine  and  break  over  at  the  top  third  into  a 


Fig.  228.  Miss  Roosevelt  138448,  first-prize  Poland-China  sow  in  class  six 
months  or  under  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  in  1904.  Shown 
by  Shellenberger  &  Keller  of  Ohio.  First  prize  in  class  at  Ohio  State 
Fair,  1905.  Owned  and  exhibited  by  Charles  E.  Keller,  Newark,  Ohio. 
Photograph  by  the  author 

neat  droop  ;  thick,  heavily  attached  ears  are  objectionable.  The 
neck  of  the  Poland-China  tends  to  be  short  and  thick,  theshozilders 
a  bit  prominent  but  well  covered,  the  back  strongly  supported 
with  a  gradual  yet  moderate  arch  the  entire  length,  the  loins  and 
ribs  being  thickly  covered,  wide,  and  strikingly  arched  in  well- 
fattened  specimens.  The  sides  have  but  a  moderate  length,  with 
an  excellent  depth.  The  rump  is  of  medium  length  but  is  fre- 
quently somewhat  low,  so  that  the  entire  upper  line  of  the  pig 
from  ear  to  tail  has  a  more  curved  outline  than  some  other  breeds. 
The  hind  quarter  is  characterized  by  great  thickness  of  flesh,  the 


49Q 


THE  PIG 


hams  being  thick  for  the  entire  length  from  top  to  bottom,  with 
a  full,  deep  twist  between.  The  legs  are  shorter  with  this  breed 
than  with  some  others,  but  too  refined  a  bone  and  not  the  strongest 
of  pasterns  are  common.  When  heavily  fed  and  made  to  carry- 
much  weight  for  the  age,  the  feet  are  frequently  poorly  supported 
at  the  toes.  Taking  the  entire  form  into  consideration,  no  breed 
shows  such  compactness  and  great  meat-producing  capacity  on 
such  short  legs  as  does  the  Poland-China.  Its  most  characteristic 
features  to  the  onlooker  are  the  color,  straight  nose,  droopy  ear, 
very  broad  and  curved  back,  superior  hams,  and  short  legs. 

The  color  of  the  Poland-China  pig  has  undergone  something  of 
an  evolution.  Originally  the  use  of  white  pigs  formed  a  leading 
feature  in  the  development  of  the  breed,  but  the  advent  of  Berk- 
shire blood  caused  a  change  to  a  darker  type.  Thirty  years 
ago  large  white  or  sandy  markings  were  common  on  the  body. 
Twenty-five  years  ago  many  "  spotted  "  pigs  were  registered  in 
the  Ohio  Poland-China  Record,  although  at  this  time  black  pigs 
with  white  points  were  receiving  special  attention.  The  older 
breeders  were  attached  to  the  lighter  colors,  but  the  solid  black 
color  with  white  feet,  tail,  and  face  met  with  show-ring  favor 
and  attained  a  popularity  which  has  held  up  to  date,  although 
white  elsewhere  argues  no  impurity  of  blood.  This  uniform  color 
marking  is  said  to  be  largely  due  to  the  influence  of  the  boar 
Tom  Corwin  2d  2037. 

The  size  of  the  Poland-China  pig  classes  it  among  the  middle- 
weight breeds.  Formerly  very  large  weights  were  attained,  but 
the  modern  demand  for  a  more  refined  and  smaller  market  type 
has  caused  the  development  of  less  scale.  Pigs  fed  for  market 
will  easily  attain  200  pounds  at  six  months,  while  250  pounds  is 
not  a  rare  weight  with  good  feeders.  Boars  at  one  year  old  should 
weigh  about  300  pounds,  and  sows  250  to  275.  At  full  maturity 
boars  should  easily  weigh  500  pounds  and  sows  400  pounds  in 
breeding  form.  Among  some  of  the  well-known  Poland-China 
boars  Chief  I  Know  11992  weighed  650  pounds,  Model  Boy 
13959  650  pounds,  and  Lookout  32451  700  pounds  in  breeding 
form  at  maturity. 

The  adaptability  of  the  Poland-China  to  environment  is  at 
least  medium.    On  the  lower  lying  lands  within  the  corn  belt 


THE  POLAND-CHINA 


491 


in  the  Mississippi  Valley  it  has  prospered  exceedingly.  In  the 
rougher,  cooler  sections  in  the  northeast  or  on  the  more  hilly  lands 
it  has  not  done  so  well.  As  a  breed,  however,  it  readily  adapts 
itself  to  a  range  of  conditions  comparable  with  other  breeds. 

The  early-maturing  qualities  of  the  Poland-China  are  of  the 
first  rank,  and  it  has  long  been  famous  for  this  quality.  No 
other  breed  will  finish  off  so  early  in  fat  form  as  will  this.  In 
an  address  on  the  Poland-China,  Mr.  L.  N.  Bonham,  a  leading 
authority  on  the  breed  said  : 

To  show  that  this  breed  had,  in  1870,  attained  unsurpassed  excellence 
in  their  readiness  to  fatten  at  any  age,  and  their  rapid  growth,  we  quote 
the  weights  of  two  lots  of  pigs  fattened  when  eleven  months  old. 

One  lot  of  30  averaged  gross 384  pounds 

"      "    "    10         "  "        410        " 

"      "    "  38         "  "        528.89  " 

tt      11    11     2         "  "        719        " 

The  net  average  of  this  last  lot  of  40  pigs  was  531  pounds. 

In  the  change  in  the  market  from  a  larger,  older  type  of  fat 
hog  to  a  smaller,  younger  one  weighing  about  225  pounds  the 
Poland-China  has  been  a  leading  element  in  meeting  the  new 
demand.  On  the  great  Chicago  hog  market  Poland-China  blood 
to-day  is  a  most  prominent  and  leading  feature,  due  largely  to 
the  ability  of  feeders  to  mature  this  breed  early.  So  strongly 
has  this  habit  become  fixed  that  a  tendency  exists  with  breeding 
stock  to  mature  too  early  and  so  not  attain  the  most  desirable 
scale  and  size. 

The  Poland-China  as  a  grazer  is  well  suited  to  blue  grass  and 
clover  pastures,  where  it  has  long  been  a  common  figure  in  the  mid- 
dle West.  The  general  custom  of  the  western  farmer  is  to  pasture 
his  pigs  in  the  summer  season,  and  this  breed  long  ago  showed 
its  suitability  for  this  purpose,  keeping  easily  with  little  grain. 

The  Poland-China  for  feeding  and  fattening  is  the  most  popular 
and  common  breed  at  this  time  in  America.  What  has  already 
been  stated  shows  that  the  early-maturing  qualities  have  a  valu- 
able application  in  the  feed  lot  or  stye.  As  based  on  extensive 
feeding  experiments,  the  breed  will  show  unusually  good  gains  at 
very  fair  cost.  In  22  tests  involving  96  pigs  at  eight  experiment 
stations  and  agricultural  colleges,  as  reported  by  Rommel,  it 


492 


THE  PIG 


required  357  pounds  of  feed  for  100  pounds  of  gain  with  the 
Poland-China,  surpassing  the  Berkshire,  Large  Yorkshire,  and 
Duroc-Jersey.  At  the  Iowa  Experiment  Station,  in  a  breed  trial 
including  sows  and  pigs  before  and  after  weaning,  it  cost  $3.15 
per  100  pounds  of  gain  before  weaning  and  $2.23  after  wean- 
ing with  the  Poland-China,  materially  surpassing  the  Berkshire, 
Chester  White,  Duroc-Jersey,  and  Tamworth,  being  excelled  by 
the  Yorkshire  only.  In  feeding  trials  at  the  Ontario  Agricultural 
College  the  Poland-China  made  an  average  daily  gain  of  .9  pound, 


Fig.  229.    Orpha  62532,  an  excellent  Poland-China  sow  formerly  owned  by 
the  Illinois  University.    Photograph  from  Professor  William  Dietrich 

requiring  40 if  pounds  of  grain  for  100  pounds  of  gain.  In  the 
Ontario  trials  the  economy  of  gain  by  the  Poland-China  was 
the  poorest  of  any  breed,  which  is  rather  an  unusual  result.  The 
following  figures,  published  by  Henry  in  Feeds  and  Feeding, 
indicate  the  value  of  the  Poland-China  as  a  feeder. 


Station  Tested  at 

Days 
Fed 

Weight  at 
Beginning 

Daily 
Gain 

Feed  per  ioo 
Lb.  Gain 

Per  Cent 
Dressed 
Carcass 

Massachusetts  .     .     . 

Vermont 

Michigan 

Wisconsin     .... 
Ontario 

134 
160 

154 
224 
117 

30  lb. 
34  " 
81   " 
100  " 
69  " 

I.31   lb. 

1.20    " 
1.20    " 
1.04    " 
1.03    " 

307  lb. 
37i   " 
5M  " 
S24  " 

507   " 

81.7 
84-0 
847 

77-i8 

THE  POLAND-CHINA  493 

These  figures  are  very  creditable.  It  is  noteworthy  that  the  per 
cent  of  dressed  carcass  secured  by  the  Michigan  station  slightly 
excelled  all  other  breeds  at  the  different  stations. 

The  character  of  Poland-China  meat  has  been  subject  to  criti- 
cism from  certain  sources  during  the  past  few  years.  The  export 
trade  has  called  for  a  lean  type  of  bacon,  such  as  is  only  pro- 
duced by  a  lean  type  of  pig,  or  one  that  is  fed  a  nitrogenous 
ration.  The  Poland-China  produces  rather  more  external  fat  than 
do  most  other  breeds.  This  is  readily  seen  in  comparing  the  car- 
casses of  pigs  of  this  breed  with  those  of  other  breeds.  There  is 
more  lard,  more  mechanically  separable  fat,  and  a  greater  thick- 
ness of  surface  fat.  In  a  carcass  study  of  the  Poland-China  and 
Berkshire  made  by  the  writer  this  was  clearly  shown.  This  has 
also  been  demonstrated  at  the  Wisconsin  station,  where  the  loin 
fat  of  the  Poland-China  was  1.75  inches  thick,  the  back  2.5  inches, 
and  the  shoulder  2.75  inches,  exceeding  in  thickness  both  Berk- 
shire and  Yorkshire.  The  American  trade,  however,  does  not 
object  to  this  fat,  nor  is  the  price  paid  by  the  packer  any  less. 
So  far  as  the  grain  and  quality  of  Poland-China  meat  is  con- 
cerned, when  not  too  fat  it  compares  very  favorably  with  the 
Chester  White  and  Duroc-Jersey.  Fed  on  a  nitrogenous  ration, 
the  Poland-China  produces  a  very  acceptable  carcass  for  the 
American  market. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Poland-China  is  the  most  popular  pig 
of  to-day.  Pure-bred  sires  on  common  sows  furnish  the  large 
majority  of  the  porkers  which  find  their  way  to  the  great  markets 
of  this  country.  These  pigs  fatten  rapidly,  mature  early,  and  the 
females  show  more  vigor  and  greater  breeding  power  than  the 
pure-breds.  Poland-China  boars  crossed  with  Duroc-Jersey,  Berk- 
shire, or  Chester  White  sows  produce  offspring  which  feed  better 
and  more  rapidly  than  the  pure-breds.  If  Poland-China  sows  seem 
to  lack  in  prolificacy,  a  cross  with  a  boar  of  one  of  the  other  breeds 
mentioned  will  increase  the  size  of  litter.  The  writer  has  also 
obtained  high-class  feeding  pigs  by  mating  Large  Yorkshire  boars 
to  Poland-China  sows.  This  cross  fed  rapidly  and  carried  ample 
flesh,  yet  did  not  become  too  fat,  dressing  out  a  choice  carcass. 

The  lack  of  fecundity  and  prolificacy  of  the  Poland-China  has 
subjected  this  breed  to  much  criticism  of  late  years.    Formerly, 


494  THE  PIG 

when  the  type  was  larger,  it  is  probable  that  the  sows  may  have 
produced  somewhat  larger  litters  than  at  the  present  time.  The 
smaller,  fat  type  of  sow  will  not  breed  so  easily  or  have  such 
large  litters  as  the  larger,  more  rangy  sort.  Many  breeders  of 
recent  years  have  seriously  criticised  the  fecundity  and  reproduc- 
tive power  of  this  breed,  and  no  doubt  the  great  increase  in  the 
herds  of  Chester  Whites  and  Duroc-Jerseys  is  due  to  dissatisfac- 
tion with  the  Poland-China  as  a  breeder.  There  is  no  doubt  but 
what  the  average  sow  of  the  breed  produces  smaller  litters  than 
any  other  breed  well  known  in  our-  feed  lots.  Dr.  Bitting  has 
shown  this  to  be  true  in  his  herdbook  record  study,  in  which  he 
shows  that  the  average  size  of  1086  Poland-China  litters  was  7.45 
pigs  each,  400  Berkshires  8.22  pigs,  and  600  Chester  Whites 
8.96  pigs.  In  a  study  made  by  the  writer  of  the  litters  of  1300 
Poland-China  brood  sows,  farrowing  9335  pigs,  the  average  size 
of  litter  was  7.4  pigs,  essentially  the  same  result  as  secured  by 
Dr.  Bitting.  Mr.  George  M.  Rommel,  in  1906,  published  a  study 
of  Poland-China  fecundity,  based  on  herdbook  records  covering 
the  years  1882-1886  and  1 898-1902.  Over  50,000  litters  were 
considered,  including  103,458  pigs  for  1 882-1886  which  averaged 
7.04  pigs  per  litter,  and  299,324  pigs  for  1 898-1902  which  aver- 
aged 7.52  pigs  per  litter.  These  figures  seem  to  show  a  slight 
gain  rather  than  loss  in  the  prolificacy  of  this  breed. 

The  distribution  of  Poland-China  swine  is  mainly  through  the 
Mississippi  Valley  states,  notably  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa, 
Missouri,  Kansas,  and  Nebraska.  The  breed  is  common  also  in 
other  states.  Among  pigs  of  this  class,  in  Canada,  heavy  fat 
producers  are  not  popular  and  have  but  slight  hold.  The  breed 
has  been  introduced  abroad  in  a  small  way.  In  1877  Mr.  D.  M. 
Magie  sent  three  head  to  Joseph  Munson,  Jr.,  at  Liverpool,  Eng- 
land, and  in  1898  twelve  head  were  sent  to  Russia,  six  from  the 
Iowa  Agricultural  College  and  six  from  H.  G.  McMillan  of  Iowa. 
The  breed,  however,  has  never  met  with  much  favor  outside  of 
the  United  States.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  a  leaner  type 
of  pork  is  required  elsewhere. 

Organizations  for  the  promotion  of  Poland-China  pigs  are  strong 
and  influential.  The  Ohio  Poland-China  Record  Association  was 
organized  at  Dayton  in  1878,  although  the  first  volume  of  the 


THE  POLAND-CHINA 


495 


Ohio  Poland  China  Record  was  published  in  I  Syy  by  Carl  Friegau 
and  M.  J.  Lawrence.  Twenty-six  volumes  of  this  record  have 
been  published  as  a  full  set.  The  American  Poland-China  Record 
Company  was  organized  in  January,  1878,  at  Cedar  Rapids, 
Iowa,  publishing  the  first  volume  of  their  herdbook  in  1879, 
since  which  it  has  published  about  forty  volumes.  The  Central 
Poland-China  Association  was  organized  in  February,  1880,  at 
Indianapolis,  publishing  its  first  volume  the  same  year.  The 
Northwestern  Poland-China  Swine  Association  was  organized 
at  Washington,  Kansas,  in  1881.  The  Standard  Poland-China 
Record  Association  was  organized  in  1887  at  Marysville,  Mis- 
souri, publishing  the  first  volume  of  its  swine  record  that  year, 
having  published  about  twenty  volumes  since  that  time.  The 
Southwestern  Poland-China  Record  Association  was  organized 
at  Ripley,  Tennessee,  in  1896.  Two  small  herdbooks  have  been 
published,  including  nearly  2000  registrations.  Several  hundred 
thousand  Poland-China  hogs  have  been  registered,  the  American, 
Standard,  Central,  and  Ohio  associations  each  doing  a  large 
business.  Recently  an  effort  has  been  made  to  amalgamate  all 
the  different  Poland-China  associations  into  one.  This  resulted  in 
the  consolidation  in  1905  of  the  Ohio  and  Central  Poland-China 
associations,  under  the  name  of  the  National  Poland-China  Record. 
The  high  prices  paid  for  Poland-China  pigs  surpass  those  paid 
for  any  other  breed  of  swine.  Some  of  the  highest  reputed  prices 
paid  occurred  in  the  summer  of  1903,  when  at  auction  sales  held 
in  Indiana  a  number  of  pigs  were  sold  to  companies  of  buyers  on 
a  shares  basis.  For  example,  two  men  owned  a  half  interest  in  a 
boar,  which  they  sold  by  shares,  ten  shares  being  issued.  Each 
owner  reserved  one  share  and  then  offered  the  other  eight  at 
auction.  Thus  ten  men  came  into  ownership  of  a  boar,  eight 
giving  security  in  notes  or  cash,  usually  the  former.  By  such 
a  plan  eight  shares  of  interest  in  the  boar  Chief  Perfection  2d 
were  sold  in  July,  1903,  for  $13,850,  eight  men  bidding  off  the 
shares  at  sums  ranging  from  $1500  to  $2000  each.  On  the 
basis  of  purchase  the  boar  was  valued  at  $34,625,  an  absurd 
proposition  on  the  face  of  it.  Such  sales  for  a  season  made  a 
great  furor,  but  soon  became  discredited  and  were  discontinued. 
Among  noteworthy  sales  of  regular  form  is  that  of  King  Medium 


496  THE  PIG 

on  December  23,  1896,  which  sold  for  $1025,  the  highest  auction- 
sale  price  to  that  date.  Happy  Union  345  1 1  at  the  Howard  & 
McAllister  sale  in  Iowa,  in  1897,  sold  for  $4000  to  the  Happy 
Union  Stock  Company.  The  same  year  Look  Me  Over  194 17, 
another  boar,  sold  for  $3600  at  the  Hart  &  Minnis  sale  at 
Edinburg,  Illinois,  to  the  Look  Me  Over  Breeding  Association 
at  Stanberry,  Missouri.  In  February,  1897,  at  the  Johnston  sale 
in  Iowa,  the  four-year-old  boar  Lookout  28901  brought  $1600. 
One  of  the  most  notable  recent  sales  is  that  of  Meddler  99999, 
sold  in  1905  to  Edward  Ware  for  $3000.  Numerous  boars  of 
the  breed  have  sold  at  prices  from  $500  to  $1000  per  head. 
Of  high-priced  sows,  Minnie's  Model  102806  sold  at  $1310, 
Hadley's  Half  Sister  87840  sold  at  $650,  and  Moorish  Maid 
81624  and  Klever's  Choice  74256,  each  sold  at  $600,  are  famous 
examples.  During  the  winter  of  1 896-1 897  such  a  boom  in 
Poland-China  prices  occurred  as  to  cause  a  protest  from  the 
wiser  breeders  of  the  country.  Men  attended  auction  sales  and 
purchased  at  prices  far  above  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  animals 
bought.  A  craze  for  pedigree  seemed  to  prevail  and  many  ani- 
mals sold  at  high  figures  that  were  unworthy  a  place  in  a  credit- 
able breeding  herd.  Better  judgment  soon  prevailed,  however, 
and  breeders  returned  once  more  to  a  more  reasonable  basis 
of  values. 


CHAPTER  LXVIII 

THE    CHESTER  WHITE 

The  original  type  of  Chester  White  pig  first  became  promi- 
nent in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania.  Long  ago  there  existed 
in  both  Chester  and  Delaware  counties  a  large,  coarse,  white 
pig.  It  has  even  been  assumed  that  the  original  stock  of  this 
sort  came  over  with  the  early  colonists,  possibly  at  the  time  of 
William  Penn.  Captain  James  Jeffries  of  Westchester,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  a  voyage  to  England  early  in  the  last  century  (1820), 
secured  a  pair  of  white  pigs,  male  and  female,  from  Bedford 
County,  England.  These  pigs  have  been  referred  to  both  as 
Bedfordshire  and  Cumberland  breeds,  though  the  former  is  the 
usually  accepted  title.  The  boar,  which  was  retained  by  Cap- 
tain Jeffries,  had  been  a  prize  winner  in  England,  and,  used  on 
the  old  white  type  in  Pennsylvania,  had  a  distinctly  refining 
influence.  This  Jeffries  boar  was  white,  though  he  had  bluish  or 
blackish  skin  spots,  and  a  broad  back,  excellent  hams,  short  legs, 
and  a  refined  head  with  droopy  ears.  Following  the  Jeffries 
importation,  Harvey  Atwood  of  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania, 
imported  some  white  Chinese  stock  from  England.  This  was  a 
sway-backed  sort,  with  short  legs,  short  face,  droopy  ears,  and 
having  black,  blue,  and  sandy  spots  in  the  hair,  and  possessing 
excellent  feeding  and  maturing  qualities.  The  stock  from  Jeffries 
and  Atwood  were  blended  together  along  with  the  common  white 
pigs  of  the  region,  and  from  this  has  come  the  first  strain,  if  it 
may  be  so  termed,  of  the  Chester  White  blood. 

The  origin  of  the  so-called  Improved  Chester  White  goes  back  to 
England  also.  This  has  a  special  application  to  what  is  known  as 
Todd's  Improved  Chester  White,  and  is  based  on  a  statement  by  S. 
H.  Todd,  and  adopted  January  16,  190 1,  by  the  American  Chester 
White  Record  Association.  This  is  the  most  detailed  informa- 
tion published  concerning  the  ancestry  of  the  improved  breed. 

497 


498  THE  PIG 

In  1827  W.  K.  Townsend  of  East  Haven,  Connecticut, 
imported  from  England  some  Norfolk  Thin  Rind  pigs.  These 
were  black  dotted  with  white,  or  white  belted  with  black,  and 
were  blocky  of  type,  short-legged,  fine  of  hair,  and  vigorous. 
Kneeland  Todd  and  his  brother  Isaac  bought  a  boar  of  this 
breed,  and  a  white  sow  of  medium  size  of  a  breed  known  locally  in 
Connecticut  as  the  Grass  breed.  No  doubt  this  sow  was  an  Irish 
Grazier.  In  1830  the  Todd  brothers  removed  from  Connecticut 
to  Ohio  and  brought  these  two  pigs  with  them.  These  were 
bred  together  in  Ohio  with  considerable  success,  producing  pigs 


Fig.  230.  Jackson  Chief  4759,  grand-champion  Chester  White  boar  at  the 
Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  L.  L.  Frost 
of  Missouri.     Photograph  from  the  National  Stockma7i  and  Farmer 

that  would  dress  365  pounds  at  nine  months  of  age.  In  1833 
Joseph  Haskins  removed  from  Massachusetts  to  Wakeman, 
northern  Ohio,  and  took  with  him  a  pair  of  pigs,  a  boar  of  the 
By  field  breed,  and  a  sow  pig  similar  to  the  one  brought  from 
Connecticut  by  the  Todds.  The  Todd  and  Haskins  pigs  were 
bred  back  and  forth  until  1848.  That  year  Isaac  Todd  bought 
from  Joel  Meade  of  Norwalk,  Ohio,  a  large  white  boar  which 
the  seller  called  the  Large  Grass  breed.  This  was  used  in  his 
herd  on  account  of  its  good-feeding  and  early-maturing  quality. 
In  1862  Isaac  Todd  secured  a  so-called  Normandy  boar  of  un- 
known breeding,  white  in  color,  said  to  be  of  French  ancestry. 


THE  CHESTER  WHITE  499 

This  nicked  well  with  his  stock,  and  he  produced  superior  feeders 
and  handsome  pigs,  with  which  he  attained  show-ring  success. 
At  the  second  state  fair  held  in  Ohio  Isaac  Todd  with  this  stock 
vanquished  all  competitors  in  the  show  ring.  In  1865  Todd  first 
introduced  Chester  White  blood  in  his  herd  with  satisfactory 
results.  At  this  period  his  son,  Seth  H.  Todd,  took  up  the  work. 
More  Chester  White  blood  was  used,  and  in  1867  the  son  bought 
a  pair  of  pure-bred  Chester  White  pigs  of  George  B.  Hickman. 
These  were  used  in  the  herd  and  the  boar  proved  a  most  success- 
ful sire.    From  this  period  on,  for  about  forty  years,  Mr.  S.  H. 


Fig.  231.  Purdue  Beeler  4755,  a  Chester  White  boar  owned  for  some  time 
by  Purdue  University,  and  an  excellent  show  boar  and  sire.  Photograph 
by  the  author 

Todd  bred  and  improved  the  Chester  White  and  played  a  leading 
part  in  its  development.  The  claim  has  been  made  that  Poland- 
China  blood  has  been  used  in  the  improvement  of  this  breed,  but 
this  Mr.  Todd  says  "is  entirely  false"  in  its  application  to  his 
own  breeding.  He  rather  attributes  it  to  a  reversion  to  the  black 
color  found  in  the  Thin  Rind  or  Bedford  hog.  Besides  S.  H. 
Todd,  Thomas  Wood  of  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  has  been 
an  important  improver  of  the  breed. 

The  origin  of  the  Ohio  Improved  Chester  White  is  credited  to 
Mr.  L.  B.  Silver.  This  person  lived  at  Salem,  Ohio,  and  became 
interested  in  improved  breeds.    In  1865  he  made  a  trip  through 


500  THE  PIG 

the  eastern  states  to  study  the  pure  breeds  of  swine.  The  Chester 
White  impressed  him  most,  so  that  he  purchased  a  specimen  and 
began  breeding.  Mr.  Silver  endeavored  to  establish  a  uniform 
type  of  large  size,  with  superior  quality,  such  as  most  nearly 
approached  his  ideal.  From  his  breeding  is  descended  what  is 
known  as  the  Ohio  Improved  Chester  White  (O.  I.  C.)  strain,  and 
all  animals  known  now  as  O.  I.  C.  W.  must  trace  back  to  his 
herd  to  be  eligible  for  registration  in  the  herdbook  promoting 
this  family. 

Characteristics  of  the  Chester  White  As  its  name  implies,  this 
breed  is  pure  white  in  color  of  hair,  although  small  black  or 
bluish-black  spots  occur  on  the  skin  to  a  more  or  less  extent. 
Such  spots  do  not  disqualify,  but  are  not  desirable  in  fixing  breed 
character.  The  head  has  a  straight  face,  the  nose  often  tends  to 
be  long  and  narrow,  and  the  ears  are  drooped  forward,  breaking 
over  one  third  to  one  half  the  length.  Thick,  heavy  ears  are 
not  uncommon.  The  body  carries  a  back  line  of  good  width 
with  a  tendency  to  be  somewhat  arched,  though  not  undesirably 
so.  The  depth  of  body  is  usually  excellent  and  the  shoulders 
show  smooth  and  strong,  but  the  hams  may  be  improved  in  the 
lower  thigh.  The  legs  may  be  short,  but  they  are  rarely  sup- 
ported on  the  toes  with  strength,  the  Chester  White  being  char- 
acteristically weak  of  pastern,  the  toes  being  too  much  spread 
and  bent  and  the  dewclaws  too  low  down.  This  weakness  is  due 
no  doubt  to  the  early-maturing,  rapid-fattening  quality  of  the 
breed,  the  weight  being  too  great  for  the  feet  to  properly  sus- 
tain. This  calls  for  more  strong  bone  in  the  make-up  of  the 
Chester  White.  The  quality  of  hair  is  about  medium,  with  a 
tendency  to  coarseness,  while  curly  hair  is  not  uncommon.  The 
modern  specimen  of  the  breed  shows  a  finer  hair  than  did  the 
older  type.  A  tendency  on  the  part  of  this  as  well  as  other  white 
breeds  is  to  sun  scald  and  scurfiness  of  skin,  especially  in  the 
West,  when  exposed  to  a  hot  sun  and  dry  weather.  In  tempera- 
ment the  Chester  White  is  excellent,  being  quiet  and  well  suited 
to  feeding. 

The  size  of  the  Chester  White  places  this  breed  in  a  high  rank. 
Formerly  it  was  the  largest  breed  in  the  country,  and  specimens 
were  exhibited  weighing  over   iooo  pounds.     The  tendency  of 


THE  CHESTER  WHITE 


50I 


modern  breeding  has  been  toward  refinement  and  smaller  size, 
so  that  the  Chester  White  does  not  naturally  develop  excessive 
size.  Mature  boars  in  fair  flesh  should  weigh  about  600  pounds 
and  sows  450,  while  barrows  at  six  to  eight  months  should  feed 
to  weigh  350  pounds. 

The  Chester  White  as  a  feeder  ranks  high.  The  barrow  of  this 
breed  will  compare  favorably  with  any  breed  in  returning  results 
for  grain  fed.  The  writer  has  supervised  the  feeding  of  many 
Chester  Whites  at  the  Indiana  Experiment  Station,  when  very 
rapid  and  profitable  fattening  resulted,  average  gains  of  one  pound 


TC*M|I 


Fig.  232.    A  Chester  White  sow  owned  by  W.  A.  Huber  of  Iowa. 
Photograph  from  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 


live  weight  from  less  than  three  pounds  of  grain  having  been 
made  daily  in  feeding  experiments  of  several  months'  duration. 
In  breed  tests  with  pure-breds  at  various  stations  the  Chester 
White  has  made  a  good  record.  At  the  Vermont  station  in  a 
172  days'  test  Chester  Whites  made  an  average  daily  gain  of  1.36 
pounds,  dressing  out  84.5  per  cent  carcass.  At  the  Maine  station 
a  daily  average  of  1.15  pounds  was  secured  for  140  days,  and  of 
1.05  pounds  for  117  days  at  the  Ontario  Agricultural  College, 
dressing  out  7J.  10  per  cent  carcass.  In  other  experiments  at  the 
Ontario  Agricultural  College  Professor  Day  reports  that  it 
required  3.37  pounds  food  for  a  pound  of  gain  with  Chester 


502 


THE  PIG 


Whites,  compared  with  3.18  for  the  Berkshire,  that  breed  doing 
best  in  this  respect. 

The  breeding  qualities  of  the  Chester  White  rank  high,  and  it 
may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  prolific  of  the  heavier-fleshed 
type  of  pigs.  The  general  evidence  shows  the  Chester  White  sow 
to  produce  larger  than  average  litters.  In  1897  Dr.  A.  W.  Bitting 
made  a  careful  study  of  the  size  of  litters  of  the  Chester  White, 
Berkshire,  and  Poland-China,  as  based  on  herdbook  records.  A 
total  of  2083  litters  were  studied,  showing  8.96  pigs  per  litter 
for  the  Chester  White,  8.22  for  the  Berkshire,  and  7.45  for  the 


Fig.  233.  Barget  C.  12954,  first-prize  Chester  White  sow  at  the  Ohio  State 
Fair,  1905,  and  a  winner  at  various  other  fairs.  Owned  and  exhibited  by 
W.  J.  Cherry,  Xenia,  Ohio.    Photograph  by  the  author 

Poland-China.  Of  these  the  Chester  White  raised  to  weaning 
7.62,  the  Berkshire  7.17,  and  the  Poland-China  6.14  of  a  total  of 
1600  litters  raised.  This  is  a  distinct  showing  in  behalf  of  the 
Chester  White.  The  sows  as  a  rule  have  excellent  udders  and 
make  very  satisfactory  mothers,  equally  good  with  any  other 
breed  of  this  class. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Chester  White  makes  a  superior  feeder, 
and  sows  from  pure-bred  sires  are  prolific  above  the  average. 
The  Chester  White  and  Poland-China  cross  to  make  better 
butchers'  hogs  than  either  of  the  pure-breds,  feeding  faster  and 
having  more  scale  than  the  Poland-China.  High-grade  Chester 
Whites  are  very  prolific,  and  the  fat  pigs  are  appreciated  by 


THE  CHESTER  WHITE  503 

buyers.  The  pure-bred  used  on  the  smaller  class  gives  more 
scale  to  the  progeny.  To  have  the  most  satisfactory  specimens 
the  Chester  White  should  be  crossed  on  pigs  possessing  superior 
bone  and  feet.  A  writer  in  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer, 
in  1898,  reports  on  a  three-quarters  bred  Chester  White  sow,  five 
years  old,  that  raised  78  pigs  in  this  time,  or  nearly  20  pigs  a 
year  for  four  years. 

The  quality  of  Chester  White  pork  may  be  regarded  as  good. 
The  breed,  however,  carries  much  fat  and  will  not  produce  a 
high-class  bacon,  as  based  on  the  English  market  ;  neither  under 
ordinary  conditions  will  the  meat  be  quite  the  equal  in  percentage 
of  fat  to  lean,  as  will  the  Berkshire. 

The  Chester  White  as  a  grazing  pig  will  do  well  on  pasture, 
making  a  good  showing  on  alfalfa,  the  clovers,  or  rape,  comparing 
favorably  with  the  other  breeds. 

The  distribution  of  the  Chester  White  is  very  widespread,  the 
breed  being  common  in  the  eastern  United  States  and  in  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Iowa,  and  some  other  states.  During 
the  past  ten  years  the  breed  has  grown  much  in  favor,  as  is 
evidenced  by  the  large  increase  in  Chester  Whites  at  the  fairs. 
The  breed  also  has  something  of  a  foothold  in  Canada,  especially 
in  Ontario.  It  seems  well  adapted  to  the  corn-belt  states,  while 
it  has  long  been  a  favorite  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  East,  where 
it  is  kept  under  more  restricted  conditions  of  confinement.  They 
have  also  been  distributed  some  in  the  South,  where  they  are 
reported  as  well  adapted  to  the  environment,  notably  in  West 
Virginia,  South  Carolina,  and  Mississippi. 

Organizations  to  promote  Chester  Whites.  There  are  four  asso- 
ciations for  registering  and  promoting  Chester  White  interests. 
These  are  as  follows  :  The  American  Chester  White  Record  is 
an  outgrowth  from  the  Chester  White  Record  Association, 
organized  in  1885  "for  the  purpose  of  making  and  maintaining 
a  registry  of  the  Todd  Improved  Chester  White  Swine,"  with 
headquarters  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  Four  volumes  of  Todd's 
Improved  Chester  White  Swine  Record  were  published,  the  first 
appearing  in  1885.  In  1894  the  articles  of  incorporation  were 
changed  to  read  American  Chester  White  Record  Association, 
and  Volume  V  was  designated  American  Chester  White  Record. 


504  THE  PIG 

Up  to  1905  ten  records  had  been  published,  registering  about 
10,000  animals.  The  Ohio  Improved  Chester  White  Swine 
Breeders'  Association  was  organized  in  1897  at  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Six  records  have  thus  far  been  published.  The  Standard  Chester 
White  Record  Association  was  organized  in  1 894  at  Indianapolis, 
Indiana.  Volume  I  appeared  in  1895,  and  thus  far  ten  volumes 
have  been  published  up  to  1906.  The  National  Chester  White 
Record  Association  was  organized  years  ago  and  long  led  an 
inactive  existence.  The  headquarters  for  this  organization  have 
been  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  prices  paid  for  Chester  Whites  have  not  been  affected  by 
inflation  conditions,  as  has  occurred  with  other  breeds.  While 
the  Chester  White  is  an  old  breed  and  is  well  known  over  a 
large  portion  of  the  country,  it  has  played  a  modest  part  during 
the  more  recent  years  when  boom  prices  might  have  been  antic- 
ipated. Breeders  have  mainly  depended  upon  private  sales,  and 
very  high-class  animals  have  been  purchasable  at  from  $50  to 
$100  per  head.  In  1893  Mr.  S.  H.  Todd  sold  the  boar  pig 
Banker  2293,  that  was  first  in  class  at  the  World's  Columbian 
Exposition  at  Chicago,  for  $150.  This,  according  to  Mr.  Todd,  is 
the  highest  price  paid  for  a  Chester  White  up  to  that  time,  and 
so  far  as  the  writer  can  learn  it  has  not  been  equaled  since. 


CHAPTER  LXIX 

THE  DUROC-JERSEY 

The  occurrence  of  red  or  sandy-colored  pigs  in  America  dates 
back  many  years.  When  pigs  of  this  color  were  first  imported  is 
not  recorded.  A  number  of  so-called  breeds  of  red  pigs  were 
kept  early  in  the  last  century,  and  from  these  it  has  been  assumed 
the  present-day  red  American  pig,  the  Duroc-Jersey,  is  descended. 

The  Guinea  breed  of  pigs  is  frequently  referred  to  in  agricultural 
writings  of  a  half  century  or  more  ago.  In  that  section  of  west- 
ern Africa  known  as  Guinea,  slave-trading  ships  secured  cargoes 
for  American  ports.  Here  existed  a  red  or  sandy  breed  of  swine, 
which  no  doubt  found  its  way  to  our  shores.  Youatt  states  that 
these  pigs  were  "large  in  size,  square  in  form,  of  a  reddish  color, 
the  body  covered  with  short,  bristly  hair,  and  smoother  and  more 
shiny  than  almost  any  other  variety  of  the  porcine  race."  W.  H. 
Montgomery  in  1852  wrote  that  the  Red  Guinea  hog  was 
imported  into  his  county  in  Iowa  in  1849  from  Steuben  County, 
New  York.  A  correspondent  of  the  American  Farmer  states 
that  the  African  or  Guinea  breed  was  brought  to  America  as 
early  as  1 804  or  possibly  earlier. 

The  Portuguese  breed  of  pigs  was  imported  from  Portugal  by 
Daniel  Webster,  about  1852,  for  his  farm  in  Massachusetts.  They 
arrived  at  New  York  about  the  time  of  Webster's  death,  and  his 
heirs  disposed  of  them  to  S.  W.  Jewett  of  Middlebury,  Vermont, 
and  A.  E.  Beach  of  New  York.  They  were  dark  red  in  color, 
and  in  form  resembled  the  Chinese  pig.  Red  pigs  from  the 
Webster  importation  and  ancestry  were  distributed  over  several 
states  east  and  south. 

Spanish  red  pigs  were  imported  by  Henry  Clay  in  1837,  f°ur 
in  number,  and  taken  to  his  farm,  Ashland,  at  Lexington,  Ken- 
tucky, where  they  bred  and  successfully  increased.  This  stock 
met  with  favor  and  was  considerably  distributed  south,  notably 

505 


506  THE  PIG 

in  Kentucky  and  Virginia.  These  had  erect  ears  and  were  of  a 
red  color. 

The  Berkshire  as  a  source  of  red  swine  early  occupied  a  place 
of  prominence.  Half  a  century  ago  Berkshires  were  more  or  less 
red  in  color,  and  the  breed  had  been  imported  for  many  years 
even  then.  Eminent  authorities  think  that  much  of  the  Duroc- 
Jersey  pig  is  descended  from  the  sandy-colored  Berkshire. 

The  Jersey  Red  breed  of  pigs  was  for  many  years  a  favorite 
one  in  New  Jersey  and  the  East.  They  were  very  large  and 
coarse,  weights  of  500  to  600  pounds  being  common,  with  speci- 
mens exceeding  1000  pounds.  In  reporting  on  this  breed  to  the 
National  Swine  Breeders'  Convention  in  1872,  Colonel  F.  D. 
Curtis  stated  that  D.  M.  Brown  of  Windsor,  New  Jersey,  had 
known  of  them  back  to  nearly  1832.  In  neighborhoods  they 
were  bred  very  uniformly,  the  color  usually  being  a  dark  red, 
although  in  some  sections  they  were  light,  sandy,  and  often 
''patched  with  white." 

The  characteristics  of  the  Jersey  Red  as  agreed  upon  by  the 
National  Swine  Breeders'   Convention  in  1872  were  as  follows: 

A  good  specimen  of  a  Jersey  Red  should  be  red  in  color,  with  a  snout  of 
moderate  length,  large  lop  ears,  small  head  in  proportion  to  size  and  length 
of  body.  They  should  be  long  in  the  body,  standing  high  and  rangy  on  their 
legs  ;  bone  coarse,  hairy  tail  and  brush,  and  hair  coarse,  inclining  to  bristles 
on  the  back.  They  are  valuable  on  account  of  their  size  and  strong  con- 
stitution and  capacity  for  growth.  They  are  not  subject  to  mange. 

About  1870  Joseph  B.  Lyman,  then  agricultural  editor  of  the 
New  York  Tribune,  it  is  said  first  named  the  breed  Jersey  Reds. 
Previous  to  this  period  they  had  been  commonly  called  Red 
hogs  and  Durocs.  In  recent  years  this  breed  as  described  has 
become  insignificant  and  has  relapsed  into  obscurity. 

The  Duroc  breed  of  red  pigs  is  said  to  have  been  established 
by  Isaac  Frinkof  Milton,  Saratoga  County,  New  York.  In  1823 
he  obtained  a  red  boar  pig  from  a  litter  of  ten,  the  product  of  a 
pair  of  red  pigs  purchased  in  1822  by  Harry  Kelsey  of  Florida, 
New  York,  from  persons  either  at  Oyster  Bay,  Queens  County, 
New  York,  or  imported  from  England,  concerning  which  point 
there  is  doubt.  Mr.  Kelsey  owned  the  famous  stallion  Duroc, 
and    the    pigs    in    question    were    known    simply    as    red  pigs. 


THE  DUROC-JERSEY  507 

Mr.  Frink  called  his  boar  and  descendants  Durocs,  in  honor  of 
the  horse.  This  boar  was  crossed  on  common  sows,  and  many 
of  the  offspring  resembled  him,  being  long  and  deep  of  body, 
lop-eared,  heavy  of  shoulder  and  ham,  quiet  of  disposition,  and 
making  rapid  growth.  The  Durocs  were  finer  in  bone  and  carcass 
than  the  Jersey  Reds.  In  1830  William  Ensign  of  Stillwater, 
Saratoga  County,  secured  a  pair  of  red  pigs  from  Connecticut, 
where  they  were  known  as  Red  Berkshires,  getting  more  the 
next  year,  and  breeding  and  distributing  them  considerably. 
The  Frink  and  Ensign  families  of  Durocs  became  very  popular. 


Fig.  234.  Ohio  Chief  8727,  first-prize  aged  Duroc  Jersey  boar  at  the  Louisi- 
ana Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  S.  E.  Morton  & 
Co.,  Camden,  Ohio.    Photograph  from  Professor  William  Dietrich 

The  origin  of  the  Duroc- Jersey  pig  is  the  result  of  the  amalga- 
mation of  the  blood  of  these  red  breeds  or  families  above  referred 
to.  Colonel  F.  D.  Curtis  of  Saratoga  County,  New  York,  long 
a  breeder  and  familiar  with  existing  conditions,  did  much  to 
promote  improvement  of  this  breed  during  the  stage  of  amalga- 
mation. Mr.  William  H.  Holmes  also  was  a  leading  breeder  and 
improver  in  Colonel  Curtis's  time.  The  Durocs  of  New  York,  the 
Red  Berkshires  of  Connecticut,  and  the  Red  Rocks  of  Vermont, 
as  they  were  called,  were  of  the  same  general  type.  Some 
system  in  breeding  was  attempted,  and  in  1877  tne  breeders  of 
Washington  and  Saratoga  counties  in  New  York  met  and  decided 


5o8 


THE  PIG 


what  the  characteristics  of  the  best  type  of  this  red  pig  should 
be.  This  standard,  which  was  published  in  the  agricultural  press, 
was  the  first  thing  of  the  kind  printed  regarding  red  pigs,  and 
was  essentially  the  one  adopted  by  the  National  Swine  Breeders' 
Convention  in  1872.  In  1885  Colonel  Curtis  wrote  that  the 
breeders  of  the  so-called  Red  Berkshire  and  Red  Rocks  cordially 
united  with  the  New  York  men,  and  the  Duroc-Jersey  standard 
was  universally  accepted  by  the  best  breeders  of  all  the  red  hogs 
of  America. 

The  improvement  of  the  Duroc-Jersey  began  with  the  union 
of  the  breeders'  interests.  It  resulted  in  a  pig  of  some  less  scale 
than  the  Jersey  Red,  lacking  its  coarseness,  having  a  better  quality 
of  flesh,  feeding  easier,  and  maturing  more  readily  at  a  younger 
age.  Instead  of  developing  a  big  hog,  one  of  medium  scale  was 
regarded  as  preferable.  The  standard  of  the  old  type  of  Berkshire 
closely  resembled  the  Duroc-Jersey  of  twenty  years  ago.  Since 
then  the  Berkshire  has  perhaps  become  more  refined  than  before, 
and  the  Duroc-Jersey  has  kept  pace  with  Berkshire  evolution. 

Men  prominent  in  improving  and  advertising  the  Duroc-Jersey 
are  of  rather  recent  years.  There  were  numerous  excellent 
breeders  in  New  York,  Connecticut,  and  Vermont,  who  sought  to 
improve  the  breed.  Mr.  William  M.  Holmes  of  Greenwich,  Wash- 
ington County,  New  York,  was  long  an  industrious  student  of  the 
breed,  but  Colonel  F.  D.  Curtis  of  Charlton,  Saratoga  County, 
was  not  only  a  prominent  breeder  of  Duroc-Jerseys  but  he  was 
also  a  natural  organizer  and  leader  and  actively  promoted  the 
breed  for  many  years.  Besides  Holmes  and  Curtis,  S.  E.  Morton 
of  Ohio,  George  W.  Stoner,  Thomas  Bennett,  and  J.  M.  Stone- 
braker  of  Illinois,  William  Roberts  of  Iowa,  and  C.  H.  Searle  of 
Nebraska  did  much  for  the  breed  from  about  the  year  1880. 

Duroc-Jersey  pigs  of  distinction  first  became  prominent  with 
the  appearance  of  the  breed  at  the  important  exhibitions,  notably 
in  the  early  eighties.  Among  the  prominent  show  and  breeding 
boars  between  1880  and  1885  were  Major  17,  Climax  21,  Phil  D 
167,  Richard  III  181,  John  Jordan  297,  and  King  Stoner  165 1. 
Of  the  sows  of  that  period  the  following  may  be  mentioned  : 
Holmes'  Ruby  70,  Lulu  76,  Bess  III  82,  Mona  II  90,  Mojeska 
96,  Bessie  100,  Valleria  200,  Lou  Edna  226,  and  Red  Stumpy 


THE  DUROC-JERSEY  509 

926.  In  more  recent  years  Hoosier  King  3205,  Col.  M.  3285, 
Storm  King  3377,  Walt's  Col.  5795,  Ohio  Chief  8727,  and  Top 
Notcher  8803,  have  attained  distinction  as  boars  of  great  merit. 

Characteristics  of  the  Duroc- Jersey  pig.  The  head  is  usually 
regarded  as  small  in  proportion  to  the  size,  the  face  is  either 
straight  or  very  slightly  dished,  and  the  nose  of  medium  length, 
being  neither  short  nor  long.  The  ears  are  of  medium  size  and 
droop  forward,  the  top  third  more  or  less  breaking  over.  The 
back  inclines  to  considerable  width  in  contrast  to  length,  show- 
ing a  wide  spring  of  rib  with  a  slight  tendency  to  arch,  though 


Fig.  235.  Cedar  Vale  Queen  7th,  the  champion  Duroc-Jersey  sow  at  the 
Indiana  State  Fair,  1905.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  Watt  &  Foust,  Cedar- 
ville,  Ohio.    Photograph  by  the  author 

not  to  so  great  a  degree  as  with  the  Poland-China.  The  body 
often  shows  unusual  depth.  The  shoulders  and  hams  are  rather 
heavy  and  thick  fleshed,  the  latter  especially  so,  and  low  in  the 
twist.  The  legs  in  the  modern  Duroc-Jersey  are  short  and  the 
bone  good,  yet  a  tendency  to  too  much  refinement  is  manifest. 
Weak  pasterns  are  becoming  too  common  with  this  breed,  not- 
withstanding the  inheritance  of  strong  legs  from  the  old  Jersey 
Red.  The  body  as  a  whole,  back  of  the  ears,  to-day  resembles 
the  Poland-China  more  than  the  Berkshire.  The  color  of  the 
Duroc-Jersey  is  red,  although  the  shades  vary  from  light  to 
dark.     Young  pigs  are  usually  a  bright  red,  and  with  age  the 


5io 


THE  PIG 


tint  changes.  Some  pigs  are  a  cherry  red,  a  popular  color,  while 
others  are  yellowish  red  or  a  shade  of  chestnut.  A  very  dark 
red  or  shady  brown,  very  light  or  pale  red,  and  black  spots  on 
the  body  skin,  are  objected  to  by  breeders.  Black  spots  on  the 
belly  and  legs  are  not  desired  but  are  admissible. 

The  size  of  the  Duroc-Jersey  is  somewhat  variable,  due  no 
doubt  to  the  commingling  of  the  blood  of  the  large  Jersey  Red 
and  the  smaller,  more  refined  red  breeds.  For  animals  in  fair 
show  condition  the  American  Duroc-Jersey  Swine  Breeders' 
Association  offers  the  following  weights  in  its  published  stand- 
ard :  Boars  two  years  old  and  over  should  weigh  600  pounds  ; 
sows  of  same  age  and  condition,  500  pounds;  boars  12  months, 
350  pounds  ;  sows,  300  pounds  ;  boars  and  sows  six  months  of 
age,  150  pounds.  Many  large  animals  of  the  breed  are  found 
to-day.  Mr.  S.  E.  Morton,  owner  of  the  boar  Ohio  Chief  8727, 
states  that,  properly  fitted,  he  could  easily  be  made  to  weigh  over 
1000  pounds.  No  doubt  the  breed  averages  somewhat  smaller 
than  it  did  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  due  in  part  to  the  general 
market  demand  for  a  smaller  class  of  hogs. 

The  environment  best  suited  to  the  Duroc-Jersey  is  on  the 
farms  of  the  middle  West,  within  the  corn  belt,  where  clover 
pasture  is  also  a  feature  of  swine  husbandry.  Here  the  breed  is 
found  to-day  in  its  most  perfect  form.  In  the  warm  climate  of 
the  South,  however,  the  Duroc-Jersey  has  met  with  great  favor, 
not  seeming  to  be  unfavorably  affected  by  the  dry,  warm  summers, 
especially  as  regards  skin  troubles.  In  Canada  the  breed  has  but 
a  small  foothold,  due  to  the  demand  for  the  bacon  type  of  pig. 

The  maturing  qualities  of  the  Duroc-Jersey  are  distinctly  high 
class.  Pigs  easily  mature  at  six  months  of  age  to  dress  out  175 
pounds.  At  the  Iowa  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  nineteen 
pigs  at  an  average  of  214  days  weighed  an  average  of  197 
pounds  each.  These  are  not  unusual  records  and  are  such  as 
may  be  secured  by  any  competent  feeder  with  fair  representa- 
tives of  the  breed.  From  the  breeders'  standpoint  the  Duroc- 
Jersey  presents  no  essential  advantage  over  other  popular  breeds 
in  re'gard  to  the  sows  or  boars  reaching  early  breeding  form. 

The  Duroc-Jersey  as  a  feeder  may  naturally  be  classed  with 
the     Poland-China,    Berkshire,    and     Chester    White.     In    the 


THE  DUROC-JERSEY 


511 


Mississippi  Valley  states  it  has  been  well  received  by  the  feeders, 
especially  in  recent  years  ;  yet  when  it  comes  to  cost  of  pro- 
duction in  gain,  published  breed  tests  of  experiment  stations 
make  the  Duroc-Jersey  a  comparatively  costly  feeder.  Rommel 
quotes  the  results  of  eleven  different  feeding  tests  at  various 
experiment  stations,  in  which  it  is  shown  that  it  required  418 
pounds  of  feed  for  100  pounds  of  gain  live  weight  by  the  Duroc- 
Jersey,  49  more  than  were  required  by  the  Berkshire,  61  more 
than  the  Poland-China,  and  71  more  than  the  Chester  White. 
At  the  Iowa  Experiment   Station,   however,   the  cost  for   100 


Fig.  236.  Col.  Gladness  13577,  first-prize  Duroc-Jersey  boar  at  Ohio  State 
Fair,  1906.  The  owner  refused  $500  for  this  pig  at  the  time  of  the  show. 
Owned  and  exhibited  by  A.  E.  Foster,  New  Salem,  Ohio.  Photograph 
by  the  author 


pounds  of  gain  with  Duroc-Jerseys  was  $2.27,  compared  with 
$2.33  for  the  Berkshire  and  $2.46  for  the  Chester  White.  In 
several  years  of  testing  at  the  Ontario  Agricultural  College  the 
Duroc-Jersey  more  than  held  its  own  with  the  Poland-China. 

The  Duroc-Jersey  as  a  grazer  seems  suited  to  such  pasture  as 
other  breeds  will  do  well  on,  and  for  this  reason  is  a  favorite  to-day 
with  many  farmers.    On  both  blue  grass  and  clover  it  thrives  well. 

The  slaughter  test  of  Duroc-Jersey  pigs  is  essentially  typical 
of  that  of  the  corn-fed  hog  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.    In  feeding 


512  THE  PIG 

trials  of  breeds  of  swine  at  the  Iowa  station,  where  the  carcasses 
of  each  breed  were  carefully  studied,  the  Duroc-Jersey  yielded 
less  lard  than  any  other  breed  except  the  Chester  White.  There 
was  a  total  of  20.35  pounds  lard  and  more  total  guts  than  any 
other  breed  excepting  Berkshire,  though  the  difference  was  not 
great.  In  killing,  the  Yorkshires  led  with  79.18  per  cent  dressed 
meat  and  the  Duroc-Jerseys  fifth  with  77.05  per  cent. 

The  quality  of  Duroc-Jersey  meat  may  at  least  be  regarded  as 
good,  compared  with  Poland-China  or  Chester  White,  when  the 
same  kind  of  food  is  used.  Duroc-Jersey  pigs  are  not  discrimi- 
nated against  in  the  market,  although  the  class  of  pork  produced 
by  them  in  the  corn  belt  is  not  the  equal  of  that  resulting  from  less 
corn  feeding.  For  many  years  the  red  hogs  of  Saratoga  County, 
New  York,  commanded  a  premium  in  the  Albany  market,  then 
a  great  pork-packing  center.  This  was  due  to  the  superior 
excellence  of  Duroc  meat,  produced  from  rations  of  potatoes, 
oats,  and  peas  and  clover  pasture. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Duroc-Jersey  pig  is  finding  its  way 
extensively  into  the  market.  Among  farmers  pigs  from  common 
sows  sired  by  Duroc-Jersey  boars  feed  well.  They  not  only 
feed  well,  but  if  mated  with  Poland-China  blood,  produce 
increased  size  of  litters  as  a  result.  The  cross  on  Poland-China 
or  Berkshire  stock  will  be  harmonious,  if  such  a  cross  is  desired. 
It  is  better,  however,  to  use  the  Berkshire  male  on  the  Duroc- 
Jersey  female,  to  secure  the  highest-class  meat. 

The  breeding  characteristics  of  the  Duroc-Jersey  are  considered 
distinctly  superior.  Twenty  years  ago  Colonel  Curtis  wrote  that 
young  sows  had  from  seven  to  ten  pigs  and  old  sows  from  ten 
to  eighteen,  while  twelve  and  fourteen  strong  pigs  at  one  litter 
were  not  at  all  uncommon.  Rommel,  in  a  report  on  Duroc-Jersey 
fecundity,  published  in  1906,  based  on  herdbook  figures,  shows 
that  21,652  litters,  comprising  200,574  pigs,  averaged  9.26  pigs 
per  litter.  This  is  a  most  excellent  record  and  reflects  great 
credit  on  the  prolificacy  of  this  breed. 

The  distribution  of  the  Duroc-Jersey  is  now  very  widespread. 
It  has  long  been  a  popular  breed  in  New  York,  New  Jersey, 
Virginia,  and  certain  sections  of  the  South.  In  recent  years  it 
has  grown  much  in  favor  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  although  bred 


THE  DUROC-JERSEY  513 

here  for  a  long  time  in  a  limited  way.  At  present  the  breed  is  in 
much  favor  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  and  Michi- 
gan. Each  year  an  increase  of  interest  is  shown  in  the  auction 
sales  of  the  pure-breds  and  in  the  exhibits  made  at  the  fairs. 

Organizations  to  promote  Duroc-Jersey  pigs  date  back  to  1883, 
when  the  American  Duroc-Jersey  Swine  Breeders'  Association 
was  established,  the  first  annual  meeting  being  held  at  Chicago, 
November  15-16,  1883,  at  which  time  Colonel  F.  D.  Curtis  of 
New  York  was  elected  president  and  C.  H.  Holmes  of  Iowa 
secretary.     In    1885    this  association    published   its  first   herd 


Fig.  237.    A  yearling  Duroc-Jersey  boar  owned  by  E.  S.  Kelly  of  Ohio. 
Photograph  by  the  author 

record,  since  which  time  to  1904  fifteen  volumes  had  been 
issued,  including  the  registration  of  about  6500  boars  and  15,000 
sows.  On  November  20,  1891,  the  National  Duroc-Jersey 
Record  Association  was  organized  at  Geneseo,  Illinois,  with 
J.  M.  Stonebraker  of  Illinois  as  president  and  G.  W.  Philippo 
of  Illinois  as  secretary-treasurer.  This  association  published  Vol- 
ume I  of  its  herd  record  in  1893,  since  which  time  a  total  of 
19  volumes  have  been  issued  to  1906,  including  the  registration 
of  many  thousands  of  boars  and  sows.  A  capital  A  after  the 
registration  number  of  a  Duroc-Jersey  pig  indicates  its  registration 
in  the  American  Association,  and  an  N  in  the  National  Associa- 
tion.    Each  of  these  organizations  has  been  very  prosperous. 


CHAPTER   LXX 

THE   CHESHIRE 

The  native  home  of  the  Cheshire  pig  is  Jefferson  County,  New 
York,  in  the  north-central  part  of  the  state,  on  the  eastern  shore 
of  Lake  Ontario.  The  climate  is  quite  cold  and  rough  in  winter, 
and  the  conditions  as  a  whole  are  not  ideal  for  swine  raising. 

The  origin  of  the  Cheshire  dates  back  to  about  1855.  The 
cause  for  the  use  of  the  name  of  the  breed  is  unknown.  About 
1855  Messrs.  Hungerford  and  Brodie  of  Jefferson  County 
imported  from  England  a  Yorkshire  boar  of  the  large  or  middle 
class.  This  was  used  upon  sows  in  the  county,  and  soon  after 
White  Suffolk  blood  was  mingled  with  the  descendants  of  this 
boar.  Early  in  the  sixties  A.  C.  Clark  of  Belleville  and  S.  P. 
Huff  slater  of  Watertown  began  to  show  pigs  of  this  class  at 
the  fairs.  Later,  in  1870,  Mr.  Clark  won  the  Packer's  Prize  of 
$500  for  the  best  pen  of  pigs  exhibited  at  a  fair  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  The  name  Cheshire,  or  Jefferson  County,  was  officially 
adopted  in  1872  by  the  Swine  Breeders'  Convention  at  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana.  The  evidence  indicates  that  the  breed  is  the 
result  of  constant  crossing  and  breeding  of  Large  Yorkshires  and 
White  Suffolks  to  the  white  pigs  in  Jefferson  County.  In  1876 
Colonel  F.  D.  Curtis,  a  prominent  New  York  live-stock  authority, 
wrote  Mr.  F.  D.  Coburn  that  he  knew  "of  but  one  breeder  of 
these  pigs  in  Jefferson  County."  Mr.  J.  H.  Sanders  bred  these 
pigs  pure  for  about  seven  years  in  Iowa,  and  wrote  Mr.  Coburn 
as  follows  : 

I  produced  all  the  different  types  of  the  Yorkshire  from  the  Large  York 
down  to  the  Lancashire  Short-face.  .  .  .  The  type  which  I  finally  succeeded 
in  fixing  upon  the  Cheshires,  as  bred  by  me,  was  almost  identical  in  size, 
form,  and  quality  with  the  most  approved  Berkshires.  Indeed,  so  marked 
was  this  resemblance  in  everything  but  color  that  they  were  often  face- 
tiously called  "  White  Berkshires." 

5M 


THE  CHESHIRE  515 

About  1873  E.  W.  Davis  began  to  improve  this  pig  and  added 
much  to  the  permanence  of  type. 

Characteristics  of  the  Cheshire.  This  breed  closely  resembles 
in  form  the  Yorkshire  of  the  middle  class.  The  face  while 
dished  is  not  extremely  so,  and  the  ears,  which  are  small  and  fine 
stand  erect  or  point  slightly  forward.  The  back  is  wide  and  very 
slightly  arched,  the  Cheshire  scale  of  points  requiring  it  to  be 
"long,  broad,  and  straight  nearly  to  root  of  tail."  The  body  as 
a  whole  has  considerable  length  but  often   lacks  depth.    The 


Fig.  238.  A  Cheshire  barrow,  one  of  a  pen  exhibited  by  Cornell  University 
at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition,  1905.  Weight  at  eight  and 
one-half  months  353  pounds.  Bred  by  E.  S.  Hill,  Freeville,  New  York. 
Photograph  from  Mr.  Hill 

shoulders  and  hams  are  regarded  as  of  the  thick-fleshed,  well- 
developed  sort.  The  legs  show  considerable  refinement  of  bone, 
frequently  to  an  undesirable  extent.  The  feet  and  pasterns  are 
only  moderately  strong.  The  color  of  the  hair  and  skin  is  white. 
Black  spots  may  occur  on  the  skin  of  pure-breds,  and  while  objec- 
tionable do  not  disqualify.  Both  skin  and  hair  are  regarded  as  of 
superior  quality  by  those  who  are  familiar  with  the  breed. 

The  size  of  the  Cheshire  pig  is  about  medium,  though  it  has  been 
classed  by  Professor  Shaw  as  the  smallest  of  the  middle-sized 


5i6  THE  PIG 

breeds.  This  is  hardly  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of 
the  Cheshire  Swine  Association.  The  standard  of  excellence  in 
Volume  I  of  the  herdbook  states  that  when  grown  and  well 
fattened  the  hogs  should  show  a  dressed  weight  of  from  400  to 
600  pounds.  That  represents  a  heavy-weight  hog.  There  are 
said  to  be  numerous  instances  on  record  of  pigs  dressing  over 
400  pounds  when  nine  months  old.  The  Cheshire  barrows 
shown  at  the  International  Live  Stock  Exposition  in  1905  were 
a  heavy-weight  lot  and  gave  no  impression  of  being  of  a  small 
breed.  One  of  these  at  eight  and  one-half  months  weighed  353 
pounds.  The  Cheshire  is  said  to  weigh  heavy  for  its  size. 
Mr.  A.  H.  Bates,  once  a  prominent  breeder  of  swine,  has  the 
following  to  say  in  a  letter  which  is  quoted  from  the  Cheshire 
Herdbook  : 

I  find  that  buyers  are  not  able  to  guess  the  weights  of  Cheshires.  One  lot 
of  thirteen  culls  I  offered  at  325  lbs.  each.  The  buyers  thought  they  would 
not  weigh  over  300  lbs.  They  averaged  390  each.  Another  lot  of  twenty 
culls  I  offered  at  150  lbs.  average.  They  weighed  185I  lbs.  on  the  average. 
I  have  found  it  will  not  do  to  sell  Cheshires  by  guess. 

The  quality  of  Cheshire  meat  ranks  high.  Sanders,  writing  of 
those  he  bred,  stated  that  "  their  meat  was  most  excellent,  tender, 
and  juicy."  Others  have  rendered  similar  testimony.  The  flesh 
is  fine  grained,  and,  with  hogs  not  fed  too  much  corn,  is  of  a 
desirable  bacon  type. 

Cross-bred  or  grade  Cheshires  are  not  common,  but  are  looked 
upon  with  favor  in  some  localities.  Where  superior  and  prepotent 
boars  are  kept  they  may  be  used  on  common  sows  to  material 
advantage,  securing  a  high  class  of  pork. 

The  Cheshire  as  a  feeder  is  not  well  known.  But  few  have 
been  tried  in  the  great  swine-producing  sections  of  the  coun- 
try. Only  experiment  stations  in  the  eastern  states  have  fed 
Cheshires  experimentally.  The  Maine  station  reports  in  1890  a 
comparison  of  breeds  of  swine,  Cheshires  gaining  daily  1.23 
pounds,  Yorkshires  1.14,  Chester  Whites  1.08,  Poland-Chinas 
1.01,  and  Berkshires  1.00.  Two  pigs  of  each  breed  were  used, 
one  of  each  sex,  and  they  were  fed  from  five  to  eight  weeks. 
The  Berkshires  ate  the  least  food  to  make  a  pound  of  gain,  and 
the  Cheshires  the  most.     Experiments  in   1891   at   the   Maine 


THE  CHESHIRE  517 

station  also  showed  more  food  required  for  the  growth  of  the 
Cheshire  than  for  that  of  other  breeds. 

The  fecundity  of  the  Cheshire  is  above  medium,  the  sows  breed- 
ing readily  and  producing  fairly  large  litters,  especially  as  com- 
monly fed  in  the  eastern  states. 

The  Cheshire  as  a  grazer  is  not  well  known,  for  it  has  been  in 
the  main  a  stye-fed  breed.  It  should,  however,  do  well  on  good 
pastures.  Shaw  credits  the  breed  with  fair  grazing  qualities.  The 
fact  that  the  Cheshire  has  never  secured  much  of  a  hold  in  the 
great  swine-producing  sections  of  our  country,  although  intro- 
duced there,  would  argue  that  it  had  not  satisfactorily  adapted 
itself  to  western  conditions. 

The  Cheshire  Swine  Breeders'  Association,  organized  in  1884  in 
New  York  State,  promotes  the  purity  and  welfare  of  this  breed. 
The  association  published  its  first  volume  of  a  herd  record  in 
1889,  .since  which  three  others  have  been  issued  up  to  and 
including   1906. 

The  distribution  of  the  Cheshire  pig  is  mainly  in  the  eastern 
United  States,  with  New  York  the  leading  state  interested  in  the 
breed.  Herds  are  also  owned  in  the  New  England  states,  Penn- 
sylvania, Ohio,  and  elsewhere,  though  in  but  a  slight  degree. 

The  popularity  of  the  Cheshire  is  distinctly  local,  it  being  one 
of  the  least-known  breeds  in  America,  being  rarely  seen  on  the 
market  or  at  agricultural  fairs  west  of  New  York.  The  late 
S.  M.  Shepard,  a  well-known  western  judge  and  authority  on 
swine,  states  that  following  the  exhibit  of  Clark  at  St.  Louis  in 
1 870  the  breed  did  not  gain  much  in  favor  beyond  the  state  of 
its  origin. 


CHAPTER   LXXI 

THE  VICTORIA 

The  origin  of  the  Victoria  breed  of  pigs  is  accredited  to  two 
sources,  which  are  as  follows  : 

i.  The  Davis  Victoria  pig.  George  F.  Davis  of  Dyer,  Lake 
County,  Indiana,  combined  the  blood  of  the  Poland-China,  Berk- 
shire, Chester  White,  and  Suffolk,  crossing  these  and  then  prac- 
ticing careful   selection  to  secure  a  definite  type.    This  work 


Fig.  239.    A  Victoria  sow,  first  in  class  at  the  Ohio  State  Fair,  1905.    Bred 
and  exhibited  by  George  Ineichen  of  Indiana.    Photograph  by  the  author 

began  about  1870.    The  descendants  of  this  breeding  represent 
the  present-day  Victorias  in  this  country. 

2.  The  Curtis  Victoria  pig  originated  with  Colonel  F.  D.  Curtis 
of  Kirby  Homestead,  Saratoga  County,  New  York,  about  1850. 
The  native  hog  containing  a  strain  of  the  Irish  Grazier  and  the 
Byfield  breed  were  first  used,  and  their  descendants  were  crossed 
on  the  Yorkshire.  What  was  termed  Suffolk  blood  was  also  used, 
but  this  was  probably  the  Yorkshire  or  a  close  relative.    Careful 

518 


THE  VICTORIA  519 

selection  by  Colonel  Curtis,  who  was  a  prominent  stockman  in 
his  day,  resulted  in  the  development  of  a  white  breed  much  after 
the  Middle  Yorkshire  type,  with  slightly  dished  face  and  erect 
ear.  The  Swine  Breeders'  Convention  at  Indianapolis  in  1872 
approved  of  a  committee  report  commending  the  Victoria.  In  this 
it  was  stated  that  pigs  of  this  breed  if  pure  should  have  a  direct 
descent  from  a  sow  named  Queen  Victoria,  which  may  be  regarded 
as  the  mother  of  the  family  and  from  which  the  breed  probably 
takes  its  name.  So  far  as  the  writer  is  aware  the  Victoria  stock 
of  Curtis  ancestry  is  now  no  longer  in  pure-bred  existence. 

Characteristics  of  the  Victoria  pig.    The  head  is  moderately 
broad,  the  face  has  a  medium  dish,  the  ear  is  of  small  to  medium 


Fig.  240.  A  group  of  prize-winning  Victorias,  bred  and  exhibited  by  George 
F.  Davis  &  Son,  Dyer,  Indiana.  Photograph  from  the  National  Stock- 
man and  Farmer 

size  and  is  carried  very  erect.  The  body  is  broad  and  deep,  the 
back  level,  and  the  tail  set  on  at  a  line  nearly  with  the  level  of 
back.  The  shoulders  and  Jiams  carry  a  considerable  thickness 
and  fullness,  and  the  length  and  depth  of  side  meat  is  very  good. 
The  length  of  leg  is  only  moderate,  and  the  quality  of  bone  and 
hair  is  fair.  In  general  conformation  one  is  reminded  of  the 
Middle  White  of  England. 

The  size  of  the  Victoria  places  it  in  the  medium  group  with 
the  Poland-China  and  Berkshire.  At  maturity  the  sows  should 
weigh  450  pounds  and  the  boars  600.  The  average  weights  for 
Victorias  shown  at  the  American  Fat  Stock  shows  at  Chicago 
from  1878  to  1 88 1  inclusive  were  460^  pounds  for  sows  one  year 
and  under  two,  331  pounds  for  sows  under  one  year,  and  326 
pounds  for  barrows  between  six  months  and  one  year  old. 


520 


THE  PIG 


The  adaptability  of  the  Victoria  is  to  the  middle  West  where 
good  pasture  is  provided  and  plenty  of  grain  always  available  for 
finishing. 

The  Victoria  as  a  feeder  has  not  been  extensively  tried.  Mr. 
Davis,  the  originator,  fed  and  showed  these  pigs  with  much  suc- 
cess for  many  years,  beginning  with  local  fairs  in  Indiana  and 
Illinois  in  1878.  From  observations  by  the  writer,  however,  no 
special  advantage  seems  to  exist  in  the  pigs  of  this  breed  as 
feeders.  In  fact  it  may  be  questioned  if  the  Victoria  will  feed 
equal  to  the  standard,  popular  breeds  of  the  present  day. 

The  quality  of  Victoria  pork  will  rank  well  among  other  breeds. 
At  the  American  Fat  Stock  Show  at  Chicago  the  breed  has 
killed  out  well  in  the  carcass  tests.  In  1882  at  this  show  the 
prizes  for  the  best  carcasses  of  swine  were  awarded  on  Victorias 
exhibited  by  Scheidt  &  Davis  of  Indiana. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Victoria  pig  is  not  well  tried  in  the 
American  feed  yard  and  its  value  is  not  commonly  known.  The 
breed  is  not  yet  well  suited  to  crossing  with  pure-breds,  owing 
to  its  own  comparatively  recent  origin,  but  the  grade  should  sell 
satisfactorily  on  the  market. 

The  breeding  qualities  of  the  Victoria  are  very  good  and  they 
produce  fair-sized  litters,  in  fact  the  claim  is  made  that  large 
litters  are  common. 

A  special  argument  in  behalf  of  the  Victoria  has  been  that  as 
a  white  breed  it  is  not  so  susceptible  to  skin  disease,  such  as  sun- 
burn, mange,  itch,  etc.,  as  are  other  white  breeds,  especially  in  the 
South  and  Southwest. 

The  promotion  of  the  Victoria  pig  is  championed  by  the  Vic- 
toria Swine  Breeders'  Association,  organized  in  Indiana  in  1886. 
In  1887  the  first  volume  of  the  Victoria  Swine  Record  was 
issued,  containing  103  registrations. 

The  distribution  of  the  Victoria  pig  is  mainly  in  Indiana,  Ohio, 
and  Illinois,  though  herds  also  exist  in  various  other  Mississippi 
Valley  states  in  a  small  way.  The  breed  is  not  growing  rapidly 
in  public  favor  and  is  shown  but  little  at  live-stock  shows  and 
agricultural  fairs. 


CHAPTER    LXXII 


THE   ESSEX 


The  native  home  of  the  Essex  pig  is  in  the  county  of  Essex 
in  eastern  England,  lying  just  northeast  of  London.  The  land 
is  level  or  rolling  and  the  climate  temperate  and  moist. 

The  early  native  type  of  Essex  pig  is  said  to  have  been  of 
mixed  color,  black  and  white,  with  white  shoulders,  nose,  and 
legs.  It  was  roach-backed,  flat -ribbed,  had  long  legs,  a  sharp 
head,  was  coarse  in  bone, 
was  a  large  feeder,  and 
had  a  nervous  disposition. 

The  improvement  of  the 
Essex  pig  was  first  secured 
by  Lord  Western,  form- 
erly an  Essex  squire,  who, 
when  in  Italy  in  1830, 
purchased  a  pair  of  black 
Neapolitans,  male  and 
female,  and  brought  them 
to  England.  The  Nea- 
politan was  then  crossed 
upon  some  well-selected  pigs  such  as  were  common  in  Essex, 
with  most  satisfactory  results.  It  is  also  thought  that  Black 
Suffolk  and  Berkshire  blood  was  used.  The  white  coloring  was 
entirely  removed  and  a  black  Essex-Neapolitan  pig  of  improved 
form  resulted,  with  shorter  head  and  legs,  more  quality,  and 
fattening  much  more  readily.  These  improved  pigs  were  very 
popular  for  a  time.  They  were  inbred,  however,  at  least  in  Lord 
Western's  hands,  and  became  of  enfeebled  constitution,  lacking 
in  fecundity  and  in  size. 

The  establishment  of  the  Improved  Essex  breed  was  accom- 
plished by  Mr.  Fisher  Hobbes  of  Boxted  Lodge,  a  tenant  of 

521 


Fig.  241.  An  Essex  boar  owned  by  Joseph 
Featherstone  &  Son  of  Ontario.  Photograph 
from  Professor  G.  E.  Day 


522  THE  PIG 

Lord  Western.  Even  prior  to  1840  he  began  to  use  Essex- 
Neapolitan  boars  on  hardy,  high-class  Essex  sows.  By  careful 
selection  and  mating  he  developed  what  became  famous  as  the 
Improved  Essex  breed.  Lord  Western  died  in  1844,  and  on  his 
death  Hobbes  purchased  his  best  breeding  sows.  This  improved 
form  had  more  size  and  constitution  than  the  original  Essex- 
Neapolitan,  and  for  more  than  twenty  years  this  was  maintained 
by  selection  from  three  distinct  families.  In  1840  Mr.  Hobbes 
received  first  prizes  on  a  boar  and  sow  at  the  Royal  Agricultural 
Society  Show  at  Cambridge,  which  gave  the  breed  much  fame. 
Since  the  time  of  Mr.  Hobbes  this  breed  has  become  distributed 
in  England,  especially  in  Suffolk  County,  adjoining  Essex,  where 
the  leading  breeders  reside.  In  England  to-day  the  Essex  is 
generally  known  as  the  Small  Black  breed  or  Black  Suffolk. 

The  introduction  of  the  Essex  pig  to  America  dates  back  to 
early  in  the  last  century.  The  old-fashioned  type  of  Essex,  it  is 
thought,  was  owned  about  1820  in  Massachusetts,  John  Prince 
having  a  cross-bred  sow,  part  Essex,  part  Chinese.  In  1839 
Henry  Parsons  of  Canada  imported  and  kept  Essex  pigs  near 
Massilon,  Ohio.  In  1886  S.  M.  Shepard  wrote  that  of  recent 
years  a  number  of  importations  had  been  made  and  a  few  herds 
kept  in  New  York,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
and  a  few  other  states.  One  of  the  extensive  breeders  and 
importers  of  twenty-five  years  ago  was  William  Smith  of 
Michigan.  At  the  present  time  one  hears  little  of  the  breed  in 
America,  neither  is  it  often  seen  in  the  exhibits  of  swine  at  the 
fairs  or  live-stock  shows. 

Characteristics  of  the  Essex  pig.  This  breed  has  certain  very 
distinguishing  features.  The  color  is  entirely  black.  The  head 
is  rather  short,  the  face  is  slightly  dished,  the  forehead  is  broad, 
and  the  ears  are  small,  fine,  and  carried  erect.  The  joivl  is 
rather  broad  and  full.  The  neck  is  short,  the  back  very  broad 
and  somewhat  short  and  strongly  carried,  while  the  sides  are 
deep  and  short.  The  sJwulders  are  well  laid  and  thickly  fleshed, 
and  the  hams  are  thick  and  deep  and  of  superior  merit.  The 
legs,  which  tend  to  be  rather  short,  show  bone  of  fine  quality. 
In  form  the  Essex  is  distinctly  of  the  thick-fleshed,  fat,  chunky 
sort,  and  perhaps  no  breed  in  England  has  been  fattened  to  so 


THE  ESSEX  523 

high  a  degree.  Owing  to  excessive  flesh  development  the  litters 
gradually  became  weak  and  enfeebled  constitution  finally  resulted. 

The  size  of  the  Essex  pig  is  small  compared  with  the  Poland- 
China  or  Berkshire,  ranking  among  the  smaller  breeds.  In  i860 
Samuel  Sidney  wrote  that  "with  age  they  attain  considerable 
weight  and  often  make  500  pounds  at  24  months  old."  The 
Emperor,  a  boar  bred  by  Fisher  Hobbes,  Sidney  states  is  2 
feet  8^  inches  high  at  the  shoulder  and  6  feet  1  inch  long. 
Mr.  F.  D.  Coburn  quotes  William  Smith,  an  extensive  breeder 
of  Essex  in  Michigan,  that  these  pigs  often  reach  a  weight  of 
400  to  500  pounds.  Dr.  Chase  of  Kansas  places  their  weight, 
under  ordinary  treatment,  when  full  grown,  at  250  to  275  pounds. 

The  special  field  for  the  Essex  seems  to  be  in  the  hands  of  the 
small  breeder  or  feeder.  This  is  the  case  in  England  as  well  as 
in  America.  The  type  is  not  so  well  suited  to  severe  conditions 
as  some  other  breeds. 

The  maturing  qualities  of  the  Essex  are  noteworthy,  the  breed 
having  been  famous  for  early  maturity  since  the  improvement  first 
effected  by  Lord  Western.    Feeders  easily  mature  at  six  months. 

The  Essex  as  feeders  rank  high  in  combining  early  maturity 
with  great  flesh  production.  The  capacity  of  the  breed  to  lay 
on  flesh  has  not  been  placed  on  record  by  American  investigators, 
but  it  has  long  been  famous  as  a  profitable  feeding  kind,  although 
producing  a  fatter  pork  than  is  at  present  in  favor  abroad.  The 
temperament  of  the  Essex  is  very  docile,  which  naturally  promotes 
easy  as  well  as  profitable  feeding. 

The  quality  of  Essex  meat  is  fine  and  of  excellent  flavor,  but 
a  large  per  cent  of  fat  to  lean  meat  prevails,  unless  care  is  exer- 
cised in  the  kind  of  foods  fed.  Mr.  J.  A.  Smith  of  Ipswich, 
England,  who  breeds  and  shows  Essex,  is  quoted  by  Professor 
Long  as  saying  that  "one  objection  which  is  urged  against  the 
breed  is  their  tendency  to  produce  an  undue  proportion  of  fat, 
consumers  complaining  that  the  bacon  is  not  sufficiently  streaky." 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Essex  pig  may  be  of  considerable  com- 
parative value.  A  half  century  ago  it  is  said  that  the  Berkshire 
breed  was  much  improved  by  Essex  blood.  In  fact  Essex  blood, 
as  improved  by  Lord  Western  and  Fisher  Hobbes,  is  said  to 
have  been  responsible  for  much  of  the  improvement  through 


524  THE  PIG 

crossing  or  grading  in  the  herds  of  England.  It  is  a  well-estab- 
lished fact  that  the  Essex  used  on  the  coarser,  rougher  type 
imparts  quality  and  early  maturity. 

The  fecundity  of  the  Essex  pig  became  impaired  by  its  exces- 
sive development  in  fat  production,  a  criticism  made  against  the 
breed  years  ago.  Mr.  Smith,  already  quoted,  says  that  his  pigs, 
when  properly  managed,  are  very  prolific,  fifteen  or  sixteen  being 
frequently  in  a  litter,  although  ten  to  eleven  is  a  fair  number. 
The  breed,  however,  does  not  stand  high  in  this  respect,  being 
ranked  below  the  Berkshire.  As  nurses  the  Essex  sows  are 
regarded  as  simply  medium,  not  as  a  rule  yielding  an  abundance 
of  milk.  The  fecundity  of  individuals  and  their  capacity  to  nurse 
young  will  depend  in  a  measure  on  the  character  of  food  fed  and 
condition  of  body. 

Organizations  to  promote  Essex  swine  exist  in  America  and 
England.  The  American  Essex  Association  was  organized  in 
1887  and  has  a  small  following.  It  has  published  two  volumes 
of  the  herdbook  and  has  registered  about  1500  animals  in  these 
volumes.  In  England  the  National  Pig  Breeders'  Association 
officially  represents  the  breed. 

The  distribution  of  Essex  pigs  is  quite  widespread.  They  are 
found  in  England  in  a  small  way  in  various  counties,  notably  in 
Essex  and  Suffolk.  They  have  also  been  exported  to  France 
and  other  European  countries  and  to  Canada  and  Australia.  In 
the  United  States  a  few  herds  are  found  in  Michigan,  Indiana, 
Texas,  Nebraska,  Alabama,  Ohio,  and  elsewhere.  The  breed 
has  met  with  favor  in  the  South. 


CHAPTER    LXXIII 

THE  SMALL  YORKSHIRE 

The  origin  of  the  Small  Yorkshire  pig,  known  as  the  "  Small 
White  "  in  England,  is  obscure.  It  has  been  assumed  that  it 
came  from  Chinese  stock,  though  different  to-day  from  the  early 
Chinese  type.  Charles  Mason  of  Chilton  and  Robert  Colling  of 
Darlington,  Yorkshire,  both  Shorthorn  cattle  breeders,  are  the 
earliest  known  persons  to  have  bred  Small  Yorkshires,  then 
termed  Chinese.  They  owned  herds  as  early  as  1818,  but  noth- 
ing is  known  of  the  parent  stock.  Following  this  period  the 
breed  met  with  some  extensive  distribution  in  England  by 
Shorthorn  breeders. 

Some  strains  or  families  of  Small  Whites  early  developed  in 
England.  A  local  breed,  known  as  the  Solway  in  Cumberland, 
assisted  in  the  improvement  of  the  Small  Yorkshire,  although 
this  was  descended  from  the  Mason-Colling  breeding  of  Small 
Whites.  The  Solway  also  played  a  part  in  improving  the  Large 
Yorkshire  as  bred  by  Mr.  Wainman  of  Carhead.  There  existed 
some  twenty-five  or  so  years  ago,  a  small  white  pig  known  as  the 
Suffolk,  which  was  essentially  absorbed  by  the  Small  Yorkshire. 
In  Cumberland  was  another  type,  some  larger  than  the  Small 
Yorkshire,  but  of  the  same  general  character,  the  blood  of  the 
two  being  freely  mixed.  Still  another  branch,  descended  from 
Mason-Colling  stock,  was  known  as  the  Windsor  breed.  A  more 
modern  and  very  popular  strain  was  developed  by  Lord  Ducie, 
which  really  resulted  from  a  judicious  blending  of  Cumberland 
and  Small  Yorkshire  blood. 

The  introduction  of  the  Small  Yorkshire  pig  to  America  under 
that  name  occurred  many  years  ago.  In  1888  Curtis  wrote  that 
it  was  first  brought  to  this  country  about  i860,  but  did  not 
attract  much  attention.  Colonel  Richard  M.  Hoe  of  New  York 
and  William  H.  Cole  of  New  Jersey  made  importations  in  1872, 

525 


526 


THE  PIG 


1874,  1875,  1876,  1877,  and  1878,  and  to  these  importations  trace 
the  best-known  herds  of  America.  Small  Yorkshires  were  first 
exhibited  at  New  York  and  New  Jersey  fairs  in  1875,  while  in 
1876  they  were  extensively  shown  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  at  St. 
Louis  and  also  at  the  Centennial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia. 

The  characteristics  of  the  Small  Yorkshire  are  most  striking. 
This  breed  among  swine  is  the  most  highly  developed  of  any 
from  the  standpoint  of  "fancy"  points.  The  head  in  its  most 
fashionable  form  presents  a  remarkable  development.   The  face  is 


Fig.  242.  A  Small  Yorkshire  boar,  first  in  class  at  the  Ohio  State  Fair,  1905. 
Owned  and  exhibited  by  George  Ineichen  of  Indiana.  Photograph  by 
the  author 

very  short  and  broad,  and  is  dished  or  curved  to  such  a  degree  in 
specimens  as  to  point  the  end  of  the  nose  upward.  The  lower  jaw 
also  is  curved  upward  in  a  marked  degree.  In  this  highly  dished 
face  the  eyes  are  often  obscured  by  rolls  of  fat  about  the  side  of 
the  head.  The  ears  are  short,  fine,  and  erect,  pointing  forward. 
The  jowl  is  naturally  very  round  and  highly  developed.  This 
breed  is  famous  for  great  fat  production  ;  the  neck  short  and 
thick,  the  back  very  broad,  short,  and  deeply  laid  with  fat  or 
flesh,  the  tail  set  up  well  on  a  line  with  the  back,  the  hams  and 
shoulders  heavy  and  full  for  the  size,  and  the  bone,  hair,  and 
quality  quite   refined.    The   color  is   entirely  white   except  for 


THE  SMALL  YORKSHIRE  527 

black  spots  occasionally  occurring  on  the  skin.    In  referring  to 
the  characteristics  of  the  breed  Professor  James  Long  writes  : 

In  breeding  the  Small  White  pig  the  breeder  should  make  it  his  aim  to 
maintain  the  characteristic  points  of  the  variety,  the  chief  of  which  are 
form  {much  in  little),  fineness  of  bone,  quantity  and  quality  of  hair,  short- 
ness of  snout,  and  aptitude  to  fatten. 

As  a  whole  pigs  of  this  breed  have  great  breadth  and  depth  for 
their  size. 

The  size  of  the  Small  Yorkshire  ranks  it  as  the  smallest  of  the 
breeds  kept  in  this  country.    The  matured  pig  will  usually  weigh 


li 

i 

It 

^i 

1 

Sr- 

W    ~ 

»1 

m 

■  ™ 

^ 

F"^ 

4 

■■■■ 

^J:-- 

iifl* 

Fig.  243.    A  Small  Yorkshire  sow  exhibited  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society 
of  England  Show,  1903.    Photograph  from  Professor  G.  E.  Day 

from  180  to  200  pounds,  although  Mr.  Sanders  Spencer  has  had 
them  weigh  nearly  300  pounds  at  fifteen  months  of  age.  Owing 
to  the  very  compact  form  individuals  weigh  more  than  might  be 
anticipated. 

The  early-maturing  qualities  of  the  Small  Yorkshire  are  of  a 
high  order,  so  that  the  pigs  may  be  fattened  at  almost  any  stage 
of  development. 

The  Small  Yorkshire  as  a  feeder  is  easily  fattened,  but  does 
not  make  large  gains.  This  has  been  regarded  as  a  superior  sort 
for  making  small  roasting  pigs,  as  the  young  things  finish  off 
early  for  this  purpose.    Some  British  swine  authorities  claim  that 


528  THE  PIG 

pigs  of  this  breed  can  be  brought  to  excessive  fatness  on  less 
food  by  half  than  any  other  breed.  It  will  not,  however,  increase 
as  rapidly  in  actual  gains  as  the  larger  breeds.  At  the  Vermont 
Experiment  Station  Small  Yorkshires  made  an  average  daily 
gain  of  1.04  pounds  live  weight,  having  an  average  weight  of 
201  pounds  after  184  days  of  feeding,  starting  at  23  pounds. 
It  required  353  pounds  of  feed  for  100  pounds  gain,  and  the 
carcasses  dressed  84.1  per  cent.  This  record  somewhat  excelled 
that  of  the  Berkshire. 

The  Small  Yorkshire  as  a  grazing  pig  will  do  extremely  well, 
at  least  that  is  the  experience  in  England.  Professor  Long  states 
that  when  a  Small  White  pig  is  fit  for  exhibition  it  gets  very 
little  but  grass,  and  that  he  has  repeatedly  seen  fat  pigs  of  this 
breed  which  in  summer  were  entirely  grass-fed. 

The  quality  of  Small  Yorkshire  meat,  while  of  fine  grain  and 
sweet,  is  not  in  favor  to-day  in  Great  Britain,  containing  as  it 
does  a  high  percentage  of  fat.  Mr.  John  Walker,  writing  in  1905 
in  Pigs  for  Profit,  says  : 

As  far  as  quality  goes  these  pigs  are  despised  by  the  butcher  because 
they  give  such  a  very  small  proportion  of  lean  to  fat  that  the  public  leaves 
the  joints  of  pork  on  the  butcher's  slab,  it  being  so  leanless,  while  the  bacon 
curer  will  have  naught  to  do  with  the  fat  little  animals. 

The  cross-bred  or  grade  Small  Yorkshire  pig  is  in  general  an 
improvement  over  the  pure-bred,  if  mated  to  a  larger  breed,  for 
thereby  a  better  grade  of  pork  is  produced  and  a  more  hardy  and 
prolific  stock  results. 

The  fecundity  of  the  Small  Yorkshire  is  about  medium,  with  a 
tendency  to  small  litters,  such  as  might  be  expected  from  a  breed 
tending  to  excess  of  fat  development.  The  nursing  females  pro- 
duce but  a  moderate  amount  of  milk. 

The  popularity  of  the  Small  Yorkshire  has  decreased  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  is  but  slightly  bred  to-day  in  England  or  America. 
As  a  breed  it  was-  largely  developed  by  fanciers,  often  for  show. 
Its  excessive  fat,  however,  caused  it  to  become  unpopular  in  the 
British  market,  where  a  lean  type  of  bacon  is  most  in  favor. 
According  to  Volume  XX  of  the  National  Pig  Breeders'  Asso- 
ciation of  Great  Britain,  only  two  or  three  breeders  now  enter 
their  pigs,  while  of  the  Large  Whites  there  are  entered  1000  out 


THE  SMALL  YORKSHIRE  529 

of  1 39 1.  This  does  not  speak  well  for  the  popularity  of  the  Small 
Yorkshire  in  England.  In  the  United  States  the  breed  is  very 
rarely  seen  at  the  live-stock  shows,  nor  are  there  many  breeders. 

The  distribution  of  the  Small  Yorkshire  is  mainly  in  England 
and  the  United  States,  in  small  herds  and  in  a  limited  degree, 
as  has  been  indicated.  They  are  mainly  located  in  the  eastern 
United  States,  notably  in  New  York,  Massachusetts,  and  Penn- 
sylvania, with  a  few  small  herds  in  the  middle  West. 

Organizations  to  protect  and  register  Small  Yorkshires  exist  in 
England  and  America.  The  National  Pig  Breeders'  Association 
registers  in  Great  Britain.  In  the  United  States  the  American 
Small  Yorkshire  Club  was  organized  in  New  York  in  1878.  This 
club  has  registered  about  1500  pigs  in  the  first  two  and  only 
volumes  of  the  herdbook  issued.  The  American  Yorkshire  Club, 
organized  in  1893,  with  headquarters  in  Minnesota,  also  registers 
this  breed  in  the  American  Yorkshire  Record,  of  which  two 
volumes  have  been  published.  In  the  herdbooks  of  this  club 
the  Small  Yorkshires  are  registered  in  a  group  by  themselves, 
as  Class  A,  the  Large  Yorkshires  being  in  Class  B.  Only  a 
few  hundred  of  the  Small  Yorkshires  have  been  registered  in 
this  club,  these  being  mainly  in  the  western  states. 


CHAPTER    LXXIV 

THE    SUFFOLK 

Two  so-called  breeds  exist  under  this  name,  one  in  America, 
the  other  in  England.  The  American  breed  is  white,  the  Eng- 
lish black.  At  one  time  a  type  of  small  white  pigs  existed  in 
England  under  the  name  of  Suffolk,  but  it  finally  became  absorbed 
with  the  Small  Yorkshire,  and  to-day  no  such  breed  as  a  White 
Suffolk  is  recognized  abroad. 

The  English  Suffolk  pig  is  black,  and,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  Essex  pig  on  page  521,  this  is  known  abroad  as 
the  Small  Black  breed,  although  the  names  Essex  or  Suffolk  are 
appropriate  and  are  used  to  a  certain  extent. 

The  origin  of  the  American  Suffolk  pig  is  no  doubt  of  Small 
Yorkshire  ancestry  in  England.  This  breed  is  said  to  have  been 
imported  to  the  United  States  in  1855  by  John  Wentworth  of 
Illinois.  The  breed  has  never  had  much  development  in  America, 
and  so  little  impression  has  it  made  under  the  name  of  Suffolk 
that,  although  an  association  was  years  ago  organized  in  its  behalf, 
the  American  Suffolk  is  not  recognized  in  the  October,  1904, 
list  of  accredited  swine-record  associations  of  the  United  States 
Department  of  Agriculture. 

Characteristics  of  the  American  Suffolk  pig.  In  1872  the 
National  Swine  Breeders'  Convention  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
approved  of  the  following  description  of  the  breed,  which  is 
republished  here  as  more  specific  than  the  published  standard  of 
the  American  Suffolk  Swine  Breeders'  Association. 

Head  small,  very  short;  cheeks  prominent  and  full;  face  dished;  snout 
small  and  very  short ;  jowl  fine  ;  ears  short,  small,  thin,  upright,  soft,  and 
silky ;  neck  very  short  and  thick,  the  head  appearing  almost  as  if  set  on 
front  of  shoulders,  no  arching  of  crest ;  chest  wide  and  deep  ;  elbows  stand- 
ing out;  brisket  wide  but  not  deep;  shoulders  thick,  rather  upright,  rounding 
outward  from  top  to  elbow ;  crops  wide  and  full,  long  ribs,  well  arched  out 

53o 


THE  SUFFOLK 


531 


from  back,  good  length  between  shoulders  and  hams;  flanks  well  filled  out 
and  coming  well  down  at  ham;  back  broad,  level,  straight  from  crest  to 
tail,  no  falling  off  or  down  at  tail;  hams  wide  and  full,  well  rounded  out, 
twist  very  wide  and  full  all  the  way  down ;  legs  small  and  very  short,  stand- 
ing wide  apart  —  in  sows,  just  keeping  belly  from  the  ground;  bone  fine, 
feet  small,  hoofs  rather  spreading  ;  tail  small,  long,  and  tapering  ;  skin  thin, 
of  a  pinkish  shade,  free  from  color;  hair  fine  and  silky,  not  too  thick ;  color 
of  hair  pale  yellowish  white,  perfectly  free  from  any  spots  or  other  color ; 
size  small  to  medium. 

The  American  Suffolk  pig  in  a  breed  comparison  is  essentially 
a  Small  Yorkshire,  although  the  dish  of  face  may  not  be  always 
quite  so  pronounced  as  with  the  latter,  while  the  size  tends  to  be 
slightly  larger.  Otherwise  the  two  breeds  are  one  to  all  intents 
and  purposes. 

The  distribution  of  the  American  Suffolk  pig  is  mainly  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  small  herds  being  kept  in  Michigan,  Iowa, 
Illinois,  and  Indiana.  Several  hundred  have  been  registered  in 
Canada.  Between  one  and  two  thousand  American  Suffolks  have 
been  registered,  but  thus  far  no  herdbook  of  the  breed  has  been 
published. 


CHAPTER    LXXV 

THE   BACON    TYPE    OF   PIG 

The  demand  for  the  bacon  type  of  pig  comes  mainly  from  the 
export  trade.  Only  in  recent  years  has  the  American  swine  pro- 
ducer had  his  attention  actively  called  to  this  class.  This  has 
been  largely  due  to  the  demand  of  the  British  market  for  superior 
bacon.  Denmark,  Ireland,  and  Canada  furnish  much  of  the  bacon 
consumed  in  England  and  Scotland.    This  bacon  requires  a  liberal 


Fig.  244.  Oak  Lodge  Royal  Canadian,  a  Large  Yorkshire  boar  owned  by 
the  Ontario  Agricultural  College,  Guelph.  This  boar  is  in  breeding  con- 
dition only,  and  shows  the  desirable  conformation  of  the  bacon  type  of 
pig.    Photograph  from  Professor  G.  E.  Day 

mixture  of  lean  with  fat,  and  suits  the  foreign  trade  much  better 
than  the  fatter  type  produced  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  In  spite 
of  the  British  demand  for  this  sort  the  American  packers  do  not 
pay  a  premium  for  it ;  consequently  the  feeder  prefers  to  produce 
the  more  rapid-fattening,  heavier-fleshed,  earlier-maturing  lard 
type.    In  spite  of  this  fact  the  production  of  bacon  pigs  seems 

532 


THE  BACON  TYPE  OF  PIG  533 

destined  to  materially  increase  in  the  future  in  the  United  States, 
for  the  reason  that  bacon  consumption  is  rapidly  increasing. 

The  general  characteristics  of  the  bacon  pig  as  compared  with 
the  so-called  lard  hog  are  as  follows  :  back  not  broad,  head  some- 
what long,  side  long  and  deep,  a  smoother  shoulder,  lighter  ham, 
and  somewhat  longer  leg.  The  general  flesh  covering  is  much 
less  fat  than  with  the  lard  type.  In  motion  the  bacon  pig  is 
animated  and  free  of  action,  showing  lively  temperament. 

The  head  varies  rather  according  to  breed.  Excessive  length 
is  undesirable,  but  the  Tamworth  often  has  a  very  long  head. 
A  medium  length  of  nose  is  preferred,  while  a  broad  forehead, 
with  ample  width  between  the  eyes,  which  should  be  of  good 
size  and  easily  seen,  denotes  mild  disposition.  A  deep  head  with 
strong  lower  jaw  is  preferred. 

Ears  of  a  fine  quality,  not  large,  thick,  and  coarse,  but  of 
moderate  thickness,  covered  with  silky  hair,  attached  neatly  well 
up  on  the  head,  and  actively  carried,  are  desirable. 

The  neck  tends  to  be  a  bit  long,  but  a  medium  length  is 
sought,  with  not  too  much  width,  blending  nicely  with  head  and 
shoulders.  The  jowl  lacks  the  extreme  fullness  found  in  the  lard 
hog,  and  is  free  from  wrinkles  such  as  often  occur  with  the  heavy 
jowl.    This  part  bacon-pig  buyers  regard  as  of  little  importance. 

The  shoulders  lie  well  into  the  body  and  do  not  bulge  out 
prominently,  but  considerable  width  and  depth,  with  ample  flesh 
covering,  are  most  desirable.  A  good  specimen  of  this  type  never 
has  prominent  shoulders.  Some  extra  thickness  of  skin  and 
heaviness  is  expected  with  boars,  but  no  notable  heaviness. 

The  fore  legs  should  be  well  placed,  coming  down  true,  either 
viewed  from  front  or  side,  the  knees  not  "knocking  in  "  and  toes 
turning  out,  the  pasterns  being  strongly  carried,  and  the  pig 
standing  up  in  shapely  form  on  the  toes.  A  fine,  hard  bone  is 
very  important,  as  evidenced  by  clean-cut  limbs  and  smooth 
joints,  lacking  coarseness  and  meatiness.  A  smooth,  clean,  hard 
bone  is  evidence  of  quality  and  is  associated  with  the  better  sort 
of  dressing  out  in  killing. 

The  chest  may  be  compared  to  that  of  the  race  horse.  It 
should  be  deep  and  full,  yet  not  too  broad.  As  one  looks  at 
the  front  of  the  pig  the  breast  and  brisket  appear  full  and  not 


534 


THE  PIG 


peaked.  Viewed  from  one  side  the  brisket  projects  slightly 
beyond  the  legs.  A  hidden,  retreating  brisket  indicates  a  poor 
constitution. 

The  back  should  be  carried  level  and  show  no  sag,  and  the 
width  should  be  uniformly  maintained  from  shoulder  to  ham.  A 
strong,  nicely  arched  loin,  as  wide  as  any  point  of  the  back  and 
smoothly  fleshed,  is  important.  A  thickness  of  one  and  one-quarter 
to  one  and  one-half  inches  of  fat  along  the  back  is  regarded  as  best 


\f~vSfiKH 

HHHdj^Hft,^        "^H&      '■■*'- 

«g|j| 

IMKgSMEfTnji    fgtaiftflT 

>  H  ?"     KJ!$lP!pl 

P^^^^^^^^^^sS 

B»Sff:.iilS 

WvkLJSv  HB/HSSoK^ 

Fig.  245.  A  shoulder  and  ham  view  of  the  bacon  type  of  pig,  showing  the 
smooth  shoulder  and  neatly  tapering  ham.  Photograph  from  Profes- 
sor G.  E.  Day 

on  the  finished  fed  pig.  The  back  of  this  type  has  a  moderately 
arched  rib,  not  flat,  giving  a  body  capacity  in  harmony  with  the 
best  feeder. 

The  sides  are  the  most  important  feature,  because  from  here 
comes  the  bacon  so  highly  valued  in  this  class.  The  sides  must 
be  long,  evenly  carried  from  shoulder  to  ham,  be  thick  and  full 
at  flank,  and  of  moderate  depth.  A  very  deep  side  provides  too 
much  belly  or  cheap  meat.    The  side  must  be  quite  smooth  and 


THE  BACON  TYPE  OF  PIG  535 

free  of  wrinkles,  and  be  covered  evenly  with  flesh.    In  touching 
on  this  subject  the  Ingersoll  Packing  Company  of  Canada  says  : 

The  packer  calls  for  the  long,  lean  pigs,  as  they  are  the  ones  that  suit 
best  and  are  most  difficult  to  procure  ;  this  is  the  only  kind  that  will  furnish 
the  desired  "  Wiltshire  side,"  and  it  will  also  make  any  of  the  other  cuts 
the  market  calls  for. 

The  rump  and  hams  lack  the  heavy  development  of  the  lard 
type,  but  a  level,  long,  moderately  broad  rump  is  important. 
The  hams  in  their  lower  parts  should  be  long,  gradually  tapering, 
not  necessarily  split  up  high  between,  with  shallow,  neatly  turned 
twist.  They  should  also  be  broad  from  front  to  rear,  with  a 
medium  thick  covering  of  flesh,  tapering  to  the  hocks. 

The  hind  legs  should  have  all  the  merits  of  the  fore  legs  in 
bone,  quality,  and  smoothness,  and  in  position  of  pasterns  and 
toes.  Besides  this  the  hocks  should  be  well  placed,  being  smooth 
of  joint  and  neither  close  nor  wide  behind. 

The  quality  of  the  bacon  pig  is  most  important.  This  is  seen 
in  the  clean,  smooth  bone  and  joints,  and  the  abundant  hair,  lack- 
ing in  coarseness,  lying  close  to  the  mellow  skin.  Wrinkles 
should  be  lacking,  and  the  entire  body  be  smooth  and  evenly 
covered  with  flesh  in  breeding  as  well  as  in  feeding  stock. 

The  weight  of  bacon  pigs  most  acceptable  in  the  market  is 
from  170  to  180  pounds,  although  200  is  not  excessive.  Danish 
bacon  pigs  range  from  180  to  220  pounds.  The  larger  type  is 
not  approved  in  Canada,  the  smaller  being  preferred. 

Breeding  bacon  pigs  should  show  the  characteristics  associated 
with  sex,  but  in  general  the  above  description  applies  to  the 
bacon  type.  The  boar  should  have  a  strong,  masculine  head, 
neck,  and  shoulder,  the  sow  a  smaller,  more  refined  sort,  with 
more  depth  of  belly  than  possessed  by  boar  or  barrow. 


CHAPTER  LXXVI 

LARGE  YORKSHIRE  OR  LARGE  WHITE 

The  ancestry  of  the  Large  Yorkshire  clearly  goes  back  over  a 
century.  Swine  from  time  immemorial  have  been  known  in  Eng- 
land, and  a  large,  coarse,  leggy,  narrow-backed,  white  hog  was 
common  in  early  days  in  that  country.  In  1789  George  Culley 
referred  to  what  is  no  doubt  parent  stock  of  the  breed,  as  follows  : 

There  was  a  breed  of  large  white  pigs  with  very  large  ears  hanging  over 
their  eyes,  which  a  few  years  ago  were  very  common  in  many  parts  of 
Yorkshire  and  Lancashire.  They  were  very  plain,  thin,  awkward  hogs,  with 
very  long  legs,  but  what  distinguished  them  more  was  two  wattles  or  dugs, 
not  unlike  the  teats  of  a  cow's  udder,  which  hung  down  from  their  throats 
on  each  side. 

Early  in  the  nineteenth  century  Dickson  wrote  that  the  old 
Yorkshire  breed  was  the  worst  of  the  large  sort,  being  long 
legged  and  weak  loined,  with  a  constitution  not  of  the  soundest 
kind.  These  were,  however,  he  writes,  being  improved  by  Berk- 
shire stock.    In  1842  Low  wrote  as  follows  : 

In  Yorkshire,  Lincolnshire,  Norfolk,  and  generally  in  the  eastern  counties 
there  are  breeds  of  large  size,  of  a  white  color,  and  with  pendent  ears. 
These  breeds  have  been  cultivated  with  more  or  less  care,  and  have  all  been 
affected  in  their  form  and  characters  by  crossing. 

The  white  pigs  of  Cumberland  County  were  also  closely  related 
to  those  of  Yorkshire  and  were  much  intermixed. 

This  old  type  of  Yorkshire  had  a  strong  coat  of  white  hair, 
some  blackish  or  bluish  skin  spots  covered  with  white  hair,  a 
large,  long  head,  big  ears,  and  strong  bone.  It  was  slow  of 
maturity  and  was  fed  up  to  over  800  pounds. 

The  modernizing  of  the  Large  Yorkshire  began  about  the 
middle  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Sidney  credits  the  first  cor- 
rect movement  to  improve  by  using  white  Leicesters  on  old 
Yorkshires.  These  Leicesters  were  large,  with  smaller  heads 
than  the  Yorkshire,  had  erect  ears,  were  fine  of  hair  and  light 

536 


LARGE  YORKSHIRE  OR  LARGE  WHITE 


537 


of  bone  compared  with  the  others.  This  cross  was  improved  by 
breeding  the  largest  and  best  young  sows  to  Small  Yorkshire 
boars  of  great  fattening  capacity.  The  improvement  thus  effected 
mainly  took  place  sixty  or  so  years  ago  about  the  cities  of  Leeds, 
Keighley,  and  Skipton  in  the  county  of  York,  and  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  by  factory  hands  and  laborers.  In  185 1  Joseph 
Tuley,  a  weaver  of  Keighley,  exhibited  a  pig  at  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Show  at   Windsor   that  attracted  great  attention,  and 


Fig.  246.  Holywell  Royalty  II,  a  fine  example  of  a  Large  Yorkshire  boar. 
Bred  and  owned  by  Sanders  Spencer,  Holywell  Manor,  St.  Ives,  Eng- 
land.   Photograph  from  Mr.  Spencer 

later  his  strain  of  Large  Yorkshires  was  very  popular,  and  his 
pigs  sold  at  high  prices.  At  this  time  the  pig  breeders  of  York- 
shire and  Cumberland  kept  pedigrees  of  their  pigs,  which  they 
printed  and  made  much  of.  The  agricultural  societies  of  the 
region  offered  prizes  to  promote  the  breed,  and  there  was  keen 
competition  in  the  show  ring.  The  various  towns  had  agricultural 
societies  and  shows.    Regarding  these  Sidney  wrote  as  follows  : 

At  these  shows  there  is  often  a  row  of  twenty  or  thirty  fat  pigs,  worth 
from  £6  to  ^12  each,  all  as  white  as  soap  and  water  can  make  them, 
stretched  on  beds  of  clean  straw,  with  wrappers  of  some  kind  to  protect 
them  from  the  sun  or  rain,  contending  for  the  first  prize,  £4. ;  second  prize, 
^3  ;  third  prize,  £2  ;  fourth  prize,  £1. 


538  THE  PIG 

At  this  time  Yorkshire  was  credited  with  being  in  the  first  rank 
as  a  pig-breeding  county,  having  the  largest  white  breed  in 
England  and  the  largest  hogs  in  the  world. 

The  early  improvers  of  the  Large  Yorkshire  may  perhaps  date 
from  Mr.  Tuley,  as  has  been  indicated.  From  a  sow  Matchless 
and  a  boar  Sampson,  of  his  breeding,   came   some  of  his  best 


Fig.  247.  Roger  (7203),  first-prize  and  champion  Large  Yorkshire  boar,  and 
winner  of  the  Berkshire  Society  gold  medal,  at  the  Royal  Agricultural 
Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Owned  by  the  Earl  of  Ellesmere.  Photo- 
graph from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berkhamsted,  England 

stock.  Mr.  W.  B.  Wainman  of  Carhead,  Yorkshire,  used  hogs 
of  Tuley  blood  and  added  to  the  merits  of  the  breed,  for  he 
produced  stock  of  much  quality  and  sent  them  to  various  parts 
of  the  world.  In  his  herd  selected  pigs  by  careful  feeding 
would  attain  a  weight  of  about  500  pounds  in  twelve  months. 
Besides  Tuley  and  Wainman  numerous  others  have  long  bred 
and  improved  this  breed,  notably  Sanders  Spencer  of  St.  Ives, 
Huntingdon  County,  who  for  a  half  century  has  been  a  most 
distinguished  breeder. 

The  important  characteristics  of  the  Large  Yorkshire  are  as 
follows  : 

The  head  is  medium  long  and  should  have  but  little  upward 
curve.  Some  prefer  a  lengthy  head,  but  modern  ideas  object  to 
too  much  extension.    A  broad,  strong  underjaw  is  desired. 


LARGE  YORKSHIRE  OR  LARGE  WHITE 


539 


The  ears  incline  to  be  heavy  and  droop  forward.  They  should 
be  fine,  of  medium  size,  and  be  carried  well  upward  and  only 
slightly  pointing  forward.    Loppy  ears  are  objectionable. 

The  body  should  have  considerable  length.  The  back  is  not 
broad  like  that  of  the  Poland-China,  but  should  be  of  fair  and 
uniform  width  with  considerable  depth,  the  sides  being  long  and 
deep  at  the  flanks,  and  full  between  shoulder  and  hip.  From 
the  American  point  of  view  this  breed  tends  to  have  a  weak  loin 
and  too  narrow  a  back. 

The  hams  are  not  expected  to  be  extremely  fat  and  heavy, 
but  should  be  of  good  size  and  thickness,  with  the  thighs  well 
carried  down.  Thin  thighs  and  cow  hocks  are  very  common  with 
this  type  of  hog. 

The  color  of  the  hair  should  always  be  white  on  every  part  of 
the  body.  Bluish  or  blackish  spots  occur  occasionally  on  the 
skin  under  this  white  hair,  and  while  objected  to  by  fanciers,  do 


Fig.  248.  Oak  Lodge  Julia  7th,  2586,  a  Large  Yorkshire  sow,  winner  of 
first  prize  and  championship  at  the  Pan-American  Exposition,  1901. 
Bred  by  J.  E.  Brethour,  Burford,  Ontario.  Photograph  from  Profes- 
sor G.  E.  Day 

not  affect  purity  of  breeding,  neither  do  they  disqualify  regis- 
tration. The  skin  should  be  pink  and  healthy.  White  pigs  in 
America,  especially  in  the  sunny  West,  tend  to  scurfiness  of  skin 
and  sun  scald,  which  causes  them  to  be  more  or  less  unpopular. 
The  size  of  the  Large  Yorkshire  places  this  breed  in  the  first 
rank.    Long  writes  of  a  Wainman  sow  that  weighed  1203  pounds. 


54Q 


THE  PIG 


In  1 90 1  several  sows  of  the  breed  were  exhibited  at  the  Inter- 
national Live  Stock  Exposition,  which  weighed  over  1000  pounds 
each.   Mr.  Spencer,  in  reply  to  a  letter  from  Professor  Long,  says  : 

The  Large  Whites  reach,  in  the  heaviest  animals,  12  stone  (168  pounds) 
at  six  months  old  ;  at  nine  months,  20  stone  to  25  stone  (280-350  pounds)  ; 
at  12  months,  30  stone  (420  pounds);  and  at  18  months,  45  stone  (630 
pounds).  .  .  .  Sampson  VI,  a  boar  bred  and  exhibited  by  myself,  and  winner 
at  the  Royal  two  years  in  succession,  weighed,  alive,  9J  hundredweight 
(1092  pounds)  at  23  months,  and  was  light  in  bone  and  carried  but  little  offal. 

The  modern  market  demand,  however,  is  for  a  smaller  pig,  and 
Yorkshire  breeders  are   producing  a  smaller   Large   Yorkshire 

type,  but  few  of  the  big 
pigs  appearing  before 
the  public. 

The  early-maturing 
character  of  the  Large 
Yorkshire  is  not  pro- 
nounced. Feeders  in 
the  corn  belt,  used  to 
pigs  that  will  finish  off 
in  eight  months,  find 
this  breed  slow  to 
mature.  The  Yorkshire 
grows  very  well  but 


Fig.  249.  Holywell  Czarina,  a  Large  Yorkshire 
sow  on  pasture  at  Sanders  Spencer's,  Holywell 
Manor,  St.  Ives,  England.  Photograph  by  the 
author 


does  not  fatten  as  early  as  the  American  breeds.  At  six  months 
of  age  the  Yorkshire  lacks  the  fattened  condition  possessed  by 
other  breeds  not  of  the  bacon  type.  In  fact,  it  never  will,  as  a 
matter  of  inheritance,  carry  so  much  fat,  for  it  is  a  leaner  sort. 

Large  Yorkshire  cross-breds  are  a  very  superior  type.  The 
Yorkshire  boar  bred  to  either  Poland-China  or  Berkshire  sows 
produces  most  excellent  feeders.  In  experiments  conducted  by 
the  author  with  this  combination  the  pigs  grew  rapidly,  fed 
extremely  well,  finished  off  smoothly,  and  produced  the  best  sort 
of  meat.  In  numerous  cross-breds  examined  the  interesting  fact 
has  been  brought  out  that  the  white  color  of  the  Yorkshire  is 
almost  invariably  predominant.  This  demonstrates  the  prepo- 
tency and  fixity  of  character  of  the  breed.  The  use  of  Large 
Yorkshire  boars  on  our  typical  American  sows  should  not  only 


LARGE  YORKSHIRE  OR  LARGE  WHITE  541 

produce  most  desirable  feeders  but  should  also  increase  the  size 
of  litters  and  thus  improve  the  defective  fecundity  of  many  sows. 
The  Large  Yorkshire  as  a  bacon  producer  has  special  distinction. 
The  breeders  of  this  pig  emphasize  the  value  of  this  character. 
In  Denmark,  England,  Ireland,  and  Canada,  where  bacon  pro- 
duction is  an  important  industry,  the  Yorkshire  and  its  crosses 
is  the  most  common  blood  used.  The  Messrs.  Denny,  an  English 
bacon  firm,  desired  to  introduce  the  best  type  of  bacon  hog  to 
use  on  the  common  stock  of  Ireland.  After  some  experimental 
work  with  the  English  breeds  they  sent   Large  Yorkshires  as 


Fig.  250.  A  pure-bred  Large  Yorkshire  barrow,  about  six  months  old, 
one  of  the  champion  pen  of  the  breed  at  the  International  Live 
Stock  Exposition,  Chicago,  1905.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  Ohio 
State  University.    Photograph  by  the  author 

the  best,  as  they  had  the  thickest  bellies  and  the  most  streaky 
meat.  In  Denmark  the  Large  Yorkshire  boar  is  extensively  used, 
in  fact  it  is  the  standard  for  breeding  to  ordinary  Danish  sows. 
The  William  Davies  Packing  Company  of  Canada  also  advocate  the 
use  of  Large  Yorkshires  and  their  crosses  for  bacon  production. 

Large  Yorkshires  dress  out  just  fair  in  slaughtering.  In  the 
report  of  the  block  test  at  the  Ontario  Provincial  Winter  Fair  in 
1 90 1  the  average  percentage  of  dressed  weight  of  the  Yorkshire 
carcass  was  78.4.  The  fatter  pigs  dress  out  somewhat  heavier. 
Mr.  Spencer  states  that  this  breed  will  dress  out  76  to  82  per 
cent.  Yorkshires  fed  in  the  corn  belt,  with  Indian  corn  as  the 
main  food,  will  no  doubt  kill  out  better  than  if  fed  barley,  peas, 


542 


THE  PIG 


oats,  middlings,  and  similar  foods,  such  as  are  used  in  Canada 
and  Europe. 

The  Large  Yorkshire  as  a  prolific  breed  stands  in  the  front 
rank.  The  females  from  very  early  days  have  been  noted  for 
producing  large  litters.  Long  refers  to  a  sow  of  Wainman  breed- 
ing that  reared  153  pigs  in  13  litters,  while  one  of  her  daughters 
raised  33  pigs  in  three  litters.  Richard  Gibson,  a  prominent 
Canadian  breeder,  writes  of  an  imported  sow  of  his  that  has 
bred  96  pigs  in  three  years  without  the  least  apparent  injury  to 
her  constitution.  James  Howard,  long  an  English  Yorkshire 
breeder  of  prominence,  prefers  sows  of  this  breed  to  have  12 
teats  and  emphasizes  the  importance  of  her  being  a  good  milker. 
The  sows  very  generally  make  good  mothers. 

The  Large  Yorkshires  as  feeders  have  not  given  equal  satisfac- 
tion in  America.  They  do  not  seem  to  eat  our  standard  foods 
with  the  relish  shown  by  the  Poland-China  or  Chester  White. 


Fig.  251.  Holywell  Rosador,  a  Middle  White  boar,  first  prize  at  the  Royal 
Counties  Show  and  at  the  Highland  and  Agricultural  Society  of  Scot- 
land Show,  1899.  Bred  and  exhibited  by  Sanders  Spencer,  Holywell 
Manor,  St.  Ives,  England.    Photograph  by  the  author 

For  some  years  the  author  has  bred  and  fed  the  Large  Yorkshire 
alongside  three  other  breeds,  and  in  the  comparison  the  Yorkshire 
was  distinctly  at  a  disadvantage  as  a  feeder.  This  test  included 
imported,  Canadian,  and  home-bred  Yorkshires.  Neither  does  the 
pure-bred  graze  equally  well  with  our  more  common  breeds. 


LARGE  YORKSHIRE  OR  LARGE  WHITE  543 

The  introduction  of  the  Large  Yorkshire  to  the  United  States 
occurred  prior  to  1840,  and  in  1841  a  pair  was  imported  by 
A.  B.  Allen  and  brought  to  Ohio.  Undoubtedly  specimens  of 
this  breed  have  been  brought  to  America  from  time  to  time  for 
over  a  century.  In  1893  Wilcox  and  Liggett  of  Minnesota 
imported  some  of  the  more  modern  type,  and  from  this  and 
Canadian  stock  have  come  most  of  the  present  Large  Yorkshire 
stock  in  this  country.  The  people  of  Canada  have  been  breed- 
ing Yorkshires  for  many  years,  and  the  most  important  herds  in 
America  are  in  that  country. 

The  Large  Yorkshire's  popularity  in  the  United  States  has  not 
grown  in  a  substantial  or  even  satisfactory  way.  Undoubtedly 
it  is  a  superior  bacon  producer,  raises  large  litters,  and  is  a  meri- 
torious animal.  Its  slow-fattening  character,  its  usual  lean  and 
leggy  type,  its  inferiority  as  a  feeder,  and  its  white  color  furnish 


Fig.  252.  Walton  Jewel  II,  a  Middle  White  sow,  first-prize  winner  at  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England  Show,  1905.  Exhibited  by  Sir 
Gilbert  Greenall,  Bart.    Photograph  from  Professor  G.  E.  Day 

more  or  less  of  the  objection  of  the  western  pork  producer.  If 
the  people  of  the  United  States  really  had  a  market  for  bacon 
that  would  justify  the  feeding  of  this  class  of  hogs,  no  doubt  the 
Yorkshire  would  be  more  extensively  bred  and  fed. 

The  distribution  of  the  Large  Yorkshire  is  very  widespread. 
Mr.  Sanders  Spencer  has  exported  them  to  forty-six  different 


544  THE  PIG 

countries,  including  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  Australia,  and  North 
and  South  America.  It  is  the  leading  white  breed  of  Great 
Britain,  Denmark,  and  Canada,  and  is  used  more  or  less  in  differ- 
ent European  and  British  settled  countries.  In  the  United  States 
it  is  bred  to  a  limited  extent  in  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Ohio,  Indiana, 
and  other  states. 

The  American  Yorkshire  Club  was  organized  in  1893  for  the 
promotion  of  the  breed.  The  official  headquarters  have  long 
been  in  Minnesota.  Up  to  January  1,  1905,  two  modest  herd- 
books  had  been  published,  in  which  was  also  registered  a  limited 
number  of  Small  Yorkshires,  these  being  grouped  as  Class  A  and 
the  Large  Yorkshires  as  Class  B.  In  Great  Britain  all  registered 
Yorkshires  are  recorded  by  the  National  Pig  Breeders' Association. 

The  Middle  White  or  Middle  Yorkshire  is  of  a  smaller,  fatter 
type  than  the  Large  Yorkshire.  It  has  a  more  dished  head, 
broader  back,  is  of  a  fatter  type,  and  more  nearly  approaches 
American  ideals  in  pig  form  than  does  the  Large  Yorkshire. 
Middle  Whites  are  not  a  recognized  breed  in  America,  though 
they  are  in  Great  Britain.  Middle  Whites  may  come  from  Large 
Yorkshire  litters,  being  selections  of  the  correct  form,  or  may 
result  from  a  cross  of  Small  Yorkshire  boars  on  Large  Yorkshire 
sows.  No  doubt  numerous  pigs  recorded  in  America  as  Large 
Yorkshires  would  be  classed  as  Middle  Whites  in  England.  Under 
the  circumstances  it  is  not  always  easy  to  draw  the  line  between 
the  two  so-called  breeds. 


CHAPTER  LXXVII 

THE  TAMWORTH 

The  native  home  of  the  Tamworth  is  the  counties  of  Stafford, 
Leicester,  Northampton,  and  Warwick  in  central  England,  but 
notably  in  Stafford.  This  is  generally  a  rolling  but  not  very  hilly 
region,  with  a  temperate,  moist  climate. 

The  ancestry  of  the  Tamworth  pig  is  obscure.  Tradition  and 
history  refer  to  a  pig  of  Tamworth  type  existing  early  in  the  last 
century.  Most  writers  on  the  pig  say  but  little  of  this  breed  and 
we  know  almost  nothing  of  its  early  development.  Spencer  states 
that  this  is  one  of  the  oldest  English  varieties,  which  fed  in 
large  droves  on  oak  and  beech  mast  in  the  forests  of  the  mid- 
land counties  even  before  the  battle  of  Waterloo.  In  an  address 
before  a  breeders'  association  at  Detroit  in  1899,  Mr.  E.  N.  Ball 
stated  that  the  breed  was  introduced  into  England  from  Ireland 
by  Sir  Robert  Peel  about  18 12,  but  no  evidence  is  found  else- 
where to  support  this  statement. 

The  early  type  of  Tamworth  was  long  of  leg  and  snout,  narrow 
of  back,  and  shallow  of  body,  slow  to  mature,  very  active  and 
hardy,  and  usually  of  a  sandy  or  reddish  color. 

The  improvement  of  the  Tamworth  came  with  the  conversion 
of  England  into  a  cultivated  region,  when  farmers  wanted  a  less 
active  type  of  pig.  The  opinion  seems  to  prevail  that  this  breed 
was  mainly  improved  by  selection,  the  breeders  seeking  to  secure 
a  quieter  type,  fattening  more  rapidly  than  of  old  and  yet  retain- 
ing the  characteristic  color.  In  1886  Mr.  F.  C.  Fidgeon  of 
Tamworth,  England,  who  had  a  considerable  knowledge  of  the 
breed,  informed  Professor  Long  that  in  the  nearly  sixty  years 
he  had  known  the  Tamworth  he  had  never  noticed  so  great  a 
change  as  from  about  1880  to  1886. 

A  generation  ago  [he  says]  they  were  a  lean  pig,  of  a  very  dark  red  color, 
which  never  varied  in  shade  and  were  provided  with  a  very  long  snout.    Of 

545 


546 


THE  PIG 


late  the  color  has  altered  in  shade,  having  become  a  sandy  or  lighter  red, 
a  point  which  is  apparently  growing  in  favor,  although  I  question  very 
much  whether  this  color  is  as  pure  as  the  original  dark  red,  for  I  believe  it 
has  been  obtained  by  a  not  very  distant  cross  with  a  white  pig. 

Spencer  has  also  suggested  the  white  cross  and  Neapolitan  cross. 
For  years  the  breed  was  almost  unnoticed,  excepting  by  a  limited 
number.  In  comparatively  recent  years  it  has  received  renewed 
attention  for  its  bacon  value.    In   1847  a  Tamworth  sow  won 


Fig.  253.  A  Tamworth  boar,  winner  of  first  prize  in  class  at  the  Royal  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  England  Show,  1904.  Exhibited  by  Robert  Ibbotson. 
Photograph  from  William  Cooper  &  Nephews,  Berkhamsted,  England 

first  honors  at  the  royal  show,  but  the  breed  was  not  given  a 
special  class  recognition  by  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of 
England  until  1885. 

The  introduction  of  the  Tamworth  to  America  is  generally 
credited  to  Mr.  Thomas  Bennett  of  Rossville,  Illinois,  who 
imported  some  pure-bred  pigs  in  1882.  Professor  Shaw  states 
that  since  1888  large  numbers  have  been  introduced  into  Canada. 
Most  of  the  importations  to  the  United  States  have  been  from 
Canada. 

Characteristics  of  the  Tamworth.  The  color  is  red,  varying  in 
shade  from  light  to  dark,  "  a  golden  red  hair  on  a  flesh-colored 
skin  free  from  black  "  being  preferred.  In  form  the  Tamworth 
is  large,  lean  in  type,  and  long  in  head,  body,  and  leg.    The  head 


THE  TAMWORTH 


547 


is  notably  long  of  snout,  tends  to  be  narrow  with  straight  snout, 
and  the  face  but  slightly  dished.  The  ears  are  large  and  should 
be  erect  or  leaning  slightly  forward,  not  breaking  over.  The  back 
is  narrow  and  long  and  the  sides  long  and  should  be  deep,  but 
usually  are  not,  based  on  American  standards.  The  shoulders 
are  usually  well  placed  and  carry  sufficient  breadth  but  lack  in 
thickness.  The  hams  represent  the  lean  type,  lacking  thickness 
at  the  twist  and  general  development  of  lower  thigh.  The  legs 
are  long  and  show  considerable  strength,  and  the  pasterns  are 
well  sustained,  the  pigs  standing  easily  on  the  toes.  In  tempera- 
ment the  breed  is  active 
and  almost  restless,  but 
the  disposition  seems 
mild  and  gentle.  The 
National  Pig  Breeders' 
Association  of  Great 
Britain  lists  the  follow- 
ing as  objectionable 
points  in  the  Tam- 
worth  :  black  hair,  very 
light  or  ginger  hair, 
curly  coat,  coarse  mane, 
black  spots  on  skin,  slouch  or  drooping  ears,  short  or  turned-up 
snout,  heavy  shoulders,  wrinkled  skin,  inbent  knees,  and  hollow- 
ness  at  back  of  shoulders. 

The  size  of  the  Tamworth  is  large,  approaching,  if  not  equaling, 
that  of  the  Large  Yorkshire.  The  Buffalo  Review  of  August  17, 
1 899,  refers  to  a  Tamworth  boar  in  England,  under  three  years 
old,  which  weighed  alive  1607  pounds  and  dressed  1330  pounds. 
This,  of  course,  was  abnormal.  The  average  mature  boar  will 
probably  weigh  about  600  pounds  and  the  sow  450  pounds.  At 
six  months  old  pigs  will  weigh  about  175  pounds. 

The  Tamworth  as  a  bacon  pig  ranks  very  high.  The  claim 
is  made  that,  owing  to  dissatisfaction  with  the  fat  quality  of 
bacon  produced  in  the  average  pig  in  England  along  in  the  early 
eighties,  the  Tamworth  came  to  the  front  to  supply  the  necessary 
lean  meat.  The  sides  are  long,  and  in  good  specimens  deep,  and 
have  a  superior  admixture  of  lean  and  fat  of  highly  acceptable 


Fig.  254.    A  Tamworth  boar.     Photograph 
from  Professor  G.  E.  Day 


548  THE  PIG 

quality.  Consequently  this  feature  of  its  conformation,  with  the 
lack  of  thick  external  fat,  caused  the  recent  agitation  in  its  behalf 
in  England  and  America.  It  is  but  fair  to  say,  however,  that  in 
spite  of  the  arguments  in  behalf  of  this  as  a  bacon  producer,  it  is 
bred  only  in  a  small  way  abroad,  the  Large  Yorkshire  being  the 
leading  bacon  pig  of  both  Britain  and  Denmark. 

The  maturing  quality  of  the  Tamworth  is  inferior,  probably 
being  less  forward  in  development  than  any  other  breed  in 
America.  While  growth  is  constantly  made,  an  early-finished, 
matured  product  does  not  usually  obtain.  However,  some  British 
feeders  have  argued  that  the  Tamworth  will  mature  early.  Mr. 
G.  M.  Allender,  long  a  famous  British  breeder,  says,  "I  find  that 
the  Tamworths  feed  early,  and  I  have  hams  now  hanging  which 
exceed  20  pounds  each  in  weight,  smoked  and  dried,  although 
they  were  cut  from  pigs  which  were  only  twenty-seven  weeks 
old."  The  Mitchell  Brothers  of  Birmingham,  who  won  first  prize 
at  the  Birmingham  Fat  Stock  Show  in  1884,  informed  Professor 
Long  that  the  Tamworths  they  exhibited  were  only  five  and 
one-half  months  old  and  weighed  12  score  per  pig,  or  240  pounds. 
These  pigs  were  from  a  sow  twelve  months  old  at  farrowing. 

The  feeding  quality  of  the  Tamworth  is  fairly  good,  the  pig 
making  considerable  growth  for  the  food  fed.  Mr.  E.  N.  Ball  of 
Michigan  reports  on  three  pigs  about  sixteen  weeks  old,  which 
during  ninety-seven  days  gained  a  total  of  340  pounds  from  1224 
pounds  of  grain,  or  100  pounds  of  gain  for  360  pounds  of  feed. 
Rommel  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  aver- 
aging the  results  of  feeding  six  breeds  as  brought  out  in  repre- 
sentative tests  by  experiment  stations,  shows  that  in  16  tests 
involving  92  Tamworths  it  required  344  pounds  of  feed  for  100 
pounds  gain  live  weight.  In  the  Iowa  feeding  trials  on  breeds  three 
experiments  were  conducted,  showing  daily  gains  for  Tamworths 
of  .J J,  1. 00,  and  1.05  pounds  respectively,  the  average  cost  per 
pound  of  gain  being  $2.42,  ranking  fifth  in  cost  of  production 
among  the  breeds.  The  Iowa  experiments  also  showed  that  the 
Tamworths  dressed  out  in  carcass  very  well,  the  average  being 
78.46  per  cent  for  14  pigs,  comparing  creditably  with  five  other 
breeds,  surpassing  three  of  them.  At  the  Ontario  Agricultural 
College,   in  comparisons  of  six  breeds,   covering  five  years  of 


THE  TAMWORTH  549 

teeding,  390.17  pounds  meal  were  required  for  100  pounds  gain, 
this  being  the  best  showing  made  by  any  breed  but  the  Berkshire. 
The  cross-bred  or  grade  Tarn  worth  has  considerable  merit. 
Tamworth  boars  on  Berkshire  sows  are  a  favorite  cross  with 
some  feeders  in  England.  When  bacon  curers  complained  of 
Berkshires  fattening  too  heavily  the  Tamworth  cross  was  resorted 
to  with  desirable  results.  Long  reports  that  the  Messrs.  Mitchell 
during  two  years  bred  and  fed  300  pigs,  all  by  Tamworth 
boars  from  Berkshire  and  Yorkshire  sows,  that  averaged  200  to 
240  pounds  weight  at  under  nine  months  old.    Tamworth  boars, 


4 

■ 

I 

_ 

W£%£t£SjS 

iiS5rcS&5ft 

wL  r  'jfe, "-^ 

'SSb^I 

■:.*.-■ 

2rfM(SHBK*i2r=£'* 

Fig.  255.    A  Tamworth  sow,  an  excellent  illustration  of  the  best  type  of  the 
breed.     Photograph  from  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer 

bred  on  the  fat  type  of  American  sows,  will  produce  a  very 
attractive,  easy-feeding,  highly-marketable  porker.  Used  on 
Poland-China  grades  considerable  success  may  be  expected.  If 
cross-bred  females  are  used  for  breeding  they  will  produce  much 
larger  litters  than  will  the  American  breeds.  The  Tamworth  sire 
is  very  prepotent,  and  reproduces  his  color  in  a  marked  degree. 

The  fecundity  of  the  Tamworth  is  a  striking  feature  of  the 
breed.  Mr.  Fidgeon  reports  his  sows  generally  bringing  from  ten 
to  fifteen  pigs  at  a  litter.  It  is  generally  conceded  in  Britain  that 
the  Tamworth  is  unsurpassed  for  fecundity  and  size  of  litter. 
One  of  the  quoted  objections  to  the  breed  in  England  was  that 
it  was  too  prolific,  the  sows  bringing  fifty  per  cent  too  many 


550  THE  PIG 

young  ones.  It  is  this  renovating  quality  of  fecundity  which  has 
furnished  important  arguments  for  Tamworth  breeders  in  behalf 
of  the  breed.  The  sows  make  good  mothers  and  produce  an 
abundance  of  milk,  as  might  be  anticipated  with  this  type. 

The  Tamworth  as  a  grazing  pig  or  rustler  has  a  distinct  place. 
It  was  for  this  reason  that  the  breed  was  originally  highly  valued, 
and  this  quality  still  obtains.  The  pigs  are  hardy  and  naturally 
adapt  themselves  to  pasture  and  clover  or  rape.  Such  feeding 
is  essentially  better  for  producing  bacon  than  fat  meat. 

Criticisms  of  the  Tamworth.  Several  characteristics  of  the 
Tamworth  have  invoked  much  criticism  in  America.  The  long 
head,  narrow  back,  and  long  legs  are  not  looked  on  with  favor 
by  American  breeders.  The  great  mass  of  American  stockmen 
will  not  accept  this  type,  and  do  not  think  it  a  profitable  feeder 
or  desirable  sort.  Unquestionably  it  will  not  feed  as  satisfactorily 
for  us  as  will  our  more  acceptable  breeds,  and  from  past  experi- 
ence the  general  evidence  shows  that  the  buyer  will  not  pay  as 
much  for  these  pigs  as  for  the  common  type  of  the  country. 
It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  Tamworth  is  more  prolific  and 
produces  a  better  quality  of  bacon,  but  it  is  not  yet  demonstrated 
in  the  United  States  that  this  is  a  pig  the  market  wants  on 
a  serious  basis.  In  1898,  in  letters  to  the  Kansas  Board  of 
Agriculture,  Armour  &  Company  stated  that  there  was  no  special 
demand  for  bacon  hogs,  while  Swift  &  Company  said  there  was 
a  growing  demand,  Berkshires  being  preferred. 

The  distribution  of  the  Tamworth  is  very  limited.  The  breed 
is  kept  in  a  small  way  in  England,  and  the  same  applies  to  Canada 
and  the  United  States.  Specimens  are  not  commonly  shown  at 
the  important  stock  shows  of  England  or  in  this  country.  The 
principal  herds  in  America  are  found  in  Ontario,  Canada,  and  in 
Michigan,  Illinois,  and  Iowa  in  the  United  States. 

Organizations  to  promote  Tamworths  exist  in  England  in  the 
authority  of  the  National  Pig  Breeders'  Association  of  Great 
Britain,  and  in  America  in  the  American  Tamworth  Swine 
Record  Association,  the  latter  being  organized  in  Michigan  in 
1897.  The  American  Association  has  thus  far  published  one 
record.  The  Dominion  Swine  Breeders'  Association  of  Canada 
also  registers  this  breed  under  government  supervision. 


CHAPTER  LXXVIII 

THE  THIN  RIND  OR  HAMPSHIRE 

This  breed  has  been  known  for  many  years  in  the  United 
States  under  the  name  of  Thin  Rind.  In  1904,  by  official  action 
of  the  American  Thin  Rind  Record  Association,  this  name  was 
changed  to  Hampshire.  The  name  Hampshire  seems  ill  advised 
to  the  writer,  for  the  reason  that  quite  a  different  breed  of  pigs 
exists  at  present  under  that  name  in  England.    It  is  unfortunate 


Fig.  256.    A  pair  of  Thin  Rind  or  Hampshire  pigs.     Photograph  from 
John  Goodwine,  Jr.,  Potomac,  Illinois 

to  have  the  same  name  for  two  different  breeds  of  swine,  and  is 
not  justifiable.  Therefore  the  author  will  make  use  of  the  word 
Thin  Rind,  which  is  said  to  have  been  given  on  account  of  the 
mellow  thin  skin  and  soft  silky  hair. 

The  origin  of  the  Thin  Rind  breed  of  swine  is  quite  obscure. 
Mr.  H.  F.  Work  states  that  this  pig  was  a  native  of  Hampshire, 
England,  early  in  the  last  century.  About  1820  to  1825  a  retired 
sea  captain  named  MacKay,  living  near  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
is  said  to  have  bought  some  of  these  pigs  in  England  and  taken 
them  to  Massachusetts,  where  they  became  popular  under  his 
name  and  later  became  known  as  Thin  Rinds.    This  breed  has 

551 


552 


THE  PIG 


long  been  known  in  Kentucky  as  the  Thin  Rind,  and  it  has  been 
assumed  that  it  came  from  the  same  source  as  the  MacKay  pig. 
In  1835  Major  Joel  Garnett  is  said  to  have  introduced  Thin 
Rinds  to  Kentucky,  having  purchased  from  eastern  persons. 
Some  have  claimed  also  that  the  ancestors  of  the  Kentucky 
Thin  Rind  were  imported  prior  to  1842  from  Tonquin,  China, 
by  a  merchant  of  New  Orleans.  The  author  has  been  unable  to 
secure  any  absolute  information  regarding  the  true  ancestry  of 
this  pig.  No  description  of  any  breed  has  been  found  in  the  early 
English  writings  which  will  apply  to  the  Thin  Rind  of  1835. 

Characteristics  of  the  Thin  Rind  pig.  The  head  is  of  the  straight 
faced  type,  of  medium  size,  with  light  jowl.  The  ears,  though 
erect,  incline  slightly  forward.  The  back  tends  to  be  of  only 
medium  width,  not  thick,  and  is  fairly  well  supported.  The 
shoulders  are  light  and  well  set  in,  and  have  fair  width.  The 
body  as  a  whole  has  only  moderate  depth  and  length,  produc- 
ing a  fair  side  for  bacon.  The  hams  are  lacking  in  fullness,  not 
possessing  the  thickness  and  depth  of  the  more  popular  Ameri- 
can breeds.  The  legs  tend  to  be  somewhat  long,  but  the  bone  is 
of  good  quality,  while  the  pasterns  and  toes  are  usually  well 
placed.  The  color  of  the  Thin  Rind  is  usually  black,  with  a 
white  belt  about  the  body,  this  being  known  as  a  "  listed  "  color, 
or  solid  black.  This  white  band  or  list  is  from  four  to  twelve 
inches  wide,  encircling  the  body  just  back  of  and  about  the  fore 
legs,  the  latter  also  being  usually  white.  In  discussing  the  color 
Mr.  H.  F.  Work  says  : 

While  the  list  will  long  be  retained  by  many  of  the  breeders  as  the  most 
fashionable  color,  there  are  also  those  who  try  to  run  their  herds  pure  black. 
An  ideal  color  is  made  up  much  as  one  may  fancy,  and  the  "color  craze  " 
should  not  exclude  worthy  animals  that  are  a  little  "  off  color,"  save  where 
spots  occur.  The  breeding  of  blacks  is  an  absolute  necessity  when  the 
listed  hogs  begin  to  show  too  much  white,  so  as  to  narrow  the  belt. 

The  size  of  the  Thin  Rind  pig  does  not  place  it  among  the 
largest  breeds,  it  being  about  medium  in  size.  Boars  sometimes 
attain  weights  of  500  pounds,  but  usually  are  much  smaller. 
The  sows  weigh  about  300  pounds  in  ordinary  condition.  Bar- 
rows in  high  flesh  attain  a  weight  of  300  to  400  pounds.  At  the 
1903  International  Live  Stock  Exposition  John  Good  wine,  Jr., 


THE  THIN   RIND  OR  HAMPSHIRE  553 

won  first  prize  for  barrows  with  five  Thin  Rinds  which  averaged 
493  pounds  each  at  eighteen  months  old,  one  of  which  won 
the  championship  in  the  slaughter  test. 

The  fecundity  of  the  Thin  Rind  pig  is  of  superior  character. 
The  sows  usually  farrow  litters  of  ten  or  twelve  pigs  after  the  first 
farrowing,  and  make  excellent  mothers  and  nurses.  In  this  respect 
they  rank  with  the  most  prolific  breeds  of  American  ancestry. 

Grade  or  cross-bred  Thin  Rind  pigs  are  not  common.  The  use 
of  the  pure-bred  boar  on  common  sows  will  result  in  a  more 
prolific  stock,  leaning  toward  the  bacon  type.  Superior  Thin 
Rind  boars  should  add  vigor  and  killing  quality  to  the  offspring 
of  a  certain  class  of  high-fleshed  sows  of  chunky  type. 

The  Thin  Rind  as  a  grazer  ranks  high  in  Kentucky  and  else- 
where, where  pigs  range  more  or  less  for  mast,  and  seek  for  feed  in 
field  and  forest.  It  was  this  quality,  together  with  that  of  fecund- 
ity, which  added  to  the  popularity  of  the  breed  where  known. 

The  quality  of  Thin  Rind  meat  is  distinctly  superior.  Natu- 
rally the  breed  belongs  to  the  bacon  class,  but  when  persistently 
fed  corn  for  generations  it  loses  some  of  its  bacon-producing 
character.  Yet  in  the  slaughter  tests  these  pigs  have  made  a 
good  showing.  At  the  1901  International  Live  Stock  Exposition 
at  Chicago  the  second  prize  for  both  pens  of  five  barrows  of 
export  bacon  type,  and  for  carcass  weighing  300  pounds  or  over, 
was  awarded  Thin  Rind  barrows  exhibited  by  Mr.  Goodwine  of 
Illinois.  At  the  1905  International  Mr.  E.  C.  Stone  won  the 
grand  championship  in  barrow  class  over  all  breeds.  Thin  Rind 
meat  is  of  excellent  grain  with  a  desirable  proportion  of  lean  to  fat. 

An  organization  to  promote  Thin  Rind  interests  was  incorpo- 
rated by  six  Boone  County,  Kentucky,  farmers  in  1893,  they  form- 
ing the  American  Thin  Rind  Record  Association.  At  this  time 
about  twelve  herds  of  swine  of  this  breed  were  eligible  for  regis- 
tration, mainly  located  in  Kentucky  and  Indiana.  In  1904  this 
association  changed  its  name  to  the  American  Hampshire  Swine 
Record  Association.    No  herdbook  has  yet  been  published. 

The  distribution  of  the  Thin  Rind  breed  is  not  extensive.  It 
has  long  been  bred  and  fed  in  Kentucky,  and  herds  in  a  small 
way  have  been  kept  in  Indiana  and  Illinois.  The  popularity  of 
this  breed  is  restricted,  but  has  gained  somewhat  in  recent  years. 


554  THE  PIG 


A  FEW  REFERENCE  BOOKS  ON  THE  PIG 

Those  marked  with  a  *  are  especially  recommended. 

Jacob  Biggle,  Biggie  Swine  Book.    Philadelphia,  1899. 

*F.  D.  Coburn,  Swine  Husbandry.    New  York,  1888. 

G.  E.  Day,  Swine.    Des  Moines,  1905. 

Joseph  Harris,  Harris  on  the  Pig.    New  York,  1870. 

*James  Long,  The  Book  of  the  Pig.    London,  N.D. 

Dr.  Georg  May,  Die  Schweinezucht.    Berlin,  1880. 

*George  M.  Rommel,  The  Hog  Industry.    Washington,  1904. 

*S.  M.  Shepard,  The  Hog  in  America.    Indianapolis,  1896. 

*Samuel  Sidney,  The  Pig.    London,  1871. 

*Sanders  Spencer,  Pigs:  Breeds  and  Management.    London,  1897. 

John  Walker,  Pigs  for  Profit.    London,  1905. 

*William  Youatt  and  W.  C.  L.  Martin,  The  Hog.    New  York,  1863. 


MISCELLANEOUS   LIVE-STOCK   BOOKS 

R.  L.  Allen,  Domestic  Animals.    New  York,  1859. 

*John  Coleman,  Cattle,  Sheep,  and  Pigs  of  Great  Britain.    London,  1887. 

*John  A.  Craig,  Judging  Live  Stock  (sixth  edition).  College  Station,  Texas, 
1904. 

George  Culley,  Observations  on  Live  Stock.    Dublin,  1789. 

*George  W.  Curtis,  Horses,  Cattle,  Sheep,  and  Swine.  College  Station,  Texas, 
1888. 

R.  W.  Dickson,  An  Improved  System  of  Management  of  Live  Stock  and  Cattle. 
London,  N.D. 

Sir  William  Jardine,  The  Natural  History  of  the  Ruminating  Animals  (The 
Naturalists'  Library,  Vol.  IV).    Edinburgh,  1836. 

*Live  Stock  Journal  Almanac.    London,  issued  yearly. 

*David  Low,  On  the  Domesticated  Animals  of  the  British  Islands.  London, 
1842. 

D.  G.  F.  Macdonald,  Cattle,  Sheep,  and  Deer.    London,  1872. 

R.  O.  Pringle,  The  Live  Stock  of  the  Farm.    Edinburgh,  1875. 

G.  G.  Richardson,  The  Corn-  and  Cattle-Producing  Districts  of  France.  Lon- 
don, N.D. 

J.  H.  Sanders,  The  Breeds  of  Live  Stock.    Chicago,  1887. 

*Thomas  Shaw,  The  Study  of  Breeds  in  America.    New  York,  1900. 

*Robert  Wallace,  Farm  Live  Stock  of  Great  Britain.    Edinburgh,  1889. 

*Various  Writers,  The  Best  Breeds  of  British  Stock.    London,  1898. 

*William  Youatt,  The  Complete  Grazier  (revised  by  William  Fream).  Lon- 
don, 1893. 


INDEX 


Aberdeen  Angus  cattle,  213 ;  as  a  dairy 
cow,  220;  characteristics,  217  ;  cross- 
ing or  grading,  220;  early  improvers, 
214;  geographical  distribution  of, 
224 ;  in  America,  famous,  223 ;  intro- 
duction to  America,  216;  native 
home  of,  213;  organizations,  224; 
origin,  213;  prices  brought  by,  222. 

Aberdeen  Angus  steer  at  International 
Live  Stock  Exposition,  222. 

Aberdeen  Angus  steers,  221  ;  prices 
brought  by,  223. 

Aberdeen  Angus  tribes  in  favor,  216. 

Action  coach  horse,  62. 

Aguirre  Merinos,  342. 

American  Merino,  339 ;  as  wool  pro- 
ducer, 349;  breeding  qualities,  351 ; 
characteristics,  348 ;  cross-bred  or 
grade,  350 ;  maturing  qualities,  352  ; 
mutton  qualities,  350;  show-ring  vic- 

torY>  355  5  size>  349- 

American  studbook,  80. . 

American  Yorkshire  Club,  544. 

Anchitherium,  4. 

Angora  Goat  Breeders'  Association,  459. 

Angora  goat,  description,  456  ;  distribu- 
tion, 459;  fleece  of,  457  ;  introduction 
to  America,  455  ;  mutton,  458 ;  native 
home,  455;  prices,  459;  prolificacy, 
459 ;  renovator  brush  land,  458  ;  va- 
rieties, 455. 

Appenzell  goat,  462. 

Arab  horse,  7 ;  characteristics,  1 2  ;  cross- 
bred, 13;  families,  9;  foundation, 
9;  in  American  history,  10;  native 
home,  8;  notable,  12;  origin,  8; 
registration  of,  13. 

Arab  pony,  148. 

Arab  studs  in  England  and  America,  11. 

Arabian,  Darley,  15. 

Ardennais,  113. 

Ass,  the,  155;  African  wild,  155;  an- 
cestry of,  155;  Asiatic  wild,  155; 
characteristics,  155;  to  America,  in- 
troduction, 160. 

Australian  Merinos,  344. 

Ayrshire  cattle,  287  ;  as  beef  producers, 
293 ;   as  butter  cows,   292  ;    as  milk 


producers,  291  ;  characteristics,  289; 
cross-bred  or  grade,  294  ;  distribution, 
294 ;  early  improvers,  288  ;  introduc- 
tion America,  289  ;  native  home,  287  ; 
origin,  287  ;  size,  291. 
Ayshire  herd  milk  records,  291 ;  in  pub- 
lic tests,  292  ;  milk  for  cheese,  293 ; 
milk  records,  292  ;  organizations  pro- 
moting interests,  294. 

Bacon    pigs,    breeding,    535 ;     weight, 

535- 

Bacon  type  pig,  characteristics,  533 ; 
demand  for,  532. 

Bakewell,  Robert,  improver  of  Shire, 
125,  429. 

Bar  None  (2388),  128. 

Barb,  Godolphin,  15. 

Baron's  Pride  (9122),  :i8. 

Bates,  Thomas,  177. 

Beautiful  Bells,  48. 

Beef  animal,  general  appearance  of, 
169;  quality  of,  173. 

Beef  cattle,  fleshing  of,  174. 

Beef  type  compared,  dual-purpose  and, 
307  ;  of  cattle,  169. 

Belgian  Draft  Horse,  American  Asso- 
ciation of  Importers  of,  137  ;  char- 
acteristics of,  137;  cross-bred,  139; 
distribution,  139;  exhibitions  in 
United  States,  136;  history  in 
America,  136. 

Belgian  horse,  133. 

Belgium  as  a  horse-breeding  country, 
133;  draft-horse  shows  in,  135;  horse- 
breeding  methods  in,  134;  Official 
Draft  Horse  Society  of,  133. 

Bellfounder,  37,  66. 

Belted  cattle.    See  Dutch  Belted. 

Benedict  (103 15)  9300,  118. 

Berkshire  pig,  adaptability  to  environ- 
ment, 478  ;  as  feeder,  479  ;  as  grazer, 
479 ;  as  source  red  swine,  506 ;  boars, 
476;  characteristics,  476;  charac- 
teristics old  type,  473 ;  color,  476 ; 
cross-bred  or  grade,  480 ;  distribu- 
tion, 482;  early  improvement,  472; 
early-maturing,  478  ;    families,    475  ; 


555 


556 


INDEX 


fecundity  and  prolificacy,  481  ;  foun- 
dation stock,  472 ;  improvers  early, 
473 ;  improvers,  modern,  474 ;  in 
Poland-China  evolution,  486 ;  intro- 
duction to  America,  474 ;  native 
home,  472 ;  organizations  for  pro- 
moting, 482  ;  pork,  480 ;  prepotency, 
482 ;  prices,  483 ;  size,  477 ;  style 
and  finish,  482. 

Big  China  pig,  485. 

Black  Faced  Highland  sheep,  charac- 
teristics, 453 ;  cross-bred  or  grade, 
454;  distribution,  454;  introduction 
in  America,  453  ;  native  home,  452  ; 
origin,  452  ;  special  field  in  America 
for,  454;  special  value,  453. 

Black  Top  Merino,  characteristics,  362  ; 
Spanish  Merino,  361. 

Blake  strain,  140. 

Blythwood  Conqueror  (14997),  128. 

Books,  miscellaneous  live-stock,  554; 
on  cattle,  reference,  332  ;  on  horse, 
reference,  167;  on  pigs,  554;  on 
sheep  and  goats,  466. 

Booth  family,  178. 

Border  Leicester  sheep,  435 ;  charac- 
teristics, 436;  in  America,  436;  or- 
ganization to  promote,  436;  rams 
on  Cheviot  ewes,  436. 

Boulonnais,  in. 

Breton,  112. 

Brienz  168,  dairy  test,  329. 

British  home  Hackney,  early,  63. 

Bronchos,  148. 

Broomfield  Champion  (95),  116. 

Brown  Swiss  cattle,  326;  adaptability, 
330;  as  beef  producers,  330;  Breed- 
ers' Association,  American,  331  ; 
characteristics,  327  ;  dairy  qualities, 
328;  distribution,  330;  in  crossing 
or  grading,  331 ;  in  United  States, 
introduction,  326 ;  native  home, 
326;  origin,  326;  size,  328. 

Bury  Chief  Victor  (n  105),  128. 

Byerly  Turk,  15. 

Byfield  pig,  484. 

Canadian  cattle.   See  French  Canadian. 

Cheshire  pig  as  a  feeder,  516;  as  a 
grazer,  517;  Breeders'  Association, 
517;  characteristics,  515;  cross-bred 
or  grade,  516;  distribution,  517;  fe- 
cundity, 517;  meat,  516;  native  home, 
514;  origin,  514;  popularity,  517;  size, 

Chester  White  pig  as  feeder,  501  ;  as 
grazer,  503  ;  breeding  qualities,  502  ; 
characteristics,    500 ;    cross-bred   or 


grade,  502  ;  distribution,  503 ;  meat 
of,  503 ;  organizations  to  promote, 
503 ;  origin  Improved,  497 ;  origin 
Ohio  Improved,  499 ;  original  type, 
497 ;  prices  paid  for,  504 ;  size,  500. 

Cheviot  sheep  as  grazer,  417;  charac- 
teristics, 416;  cross-bred  or  grade, 
418;  distribution,  419;  for  mutton, 
417;  for  wool,  418;  hardiness,  418; 
introduction  to  United  States,  416; 
native  home,  415;  on  range,  419; 
organizations  to  promote,  420;  origin, 
415;  prices  for,  420;  prolific  charac- 
ter, 418;  size,  417. 

Clay  family,  41. 

Cleveland  Bay  horse,  86 ;  as  a  breed, 
purity,  87  ;  as  roadster,  90 ;  charac- 
teristics, 89 ;  distribution,  90 ;  early 
purpose,  87  ;  half-bred  or  grade,  90 ; 
in  America,  88 ;  native  home,  86 ; 
origin,  86;  studbooks,  90. 

Clyde,  alias  Glancer  (153),  116. 

Clydesdale  horse,  114;  as  a  breed, 
distribution,  122;  breeders'  associa- 
tions, 122;  characteristics,  1 1.8  ;  criti- 
cisms of,  123;  early  history,  114; 
half-bred  or  grade,  123;  high  prices 
for,  123;  introduction  to  America, 
120;  of  merit  in  America,  121;  ori- 
gin modern,  114;  sires,  important, 
115,  118;  to  United  States,  promi- 
nent introducers  of,  122  ;  use  English 
blood  on,  115. 

Coach  horse,  action,  62  ;  sub-classes,  62. 

Coates's  Herd  book,  195. 

Colling  brothers,  176. 

Cotswold  sheep,  ancestry,  437 ;  as 
feeder,  440  ;  as  grazer,  441 ;  breeding 
qualities,  441;  characteristics,  439; 
distribution,  442 ;  for  crossing  and 
grading,  441;  for  mutton,  440;  for 
wool,  442 ;  introduction  to  America, 
438  ;  native  home,  437  ;  organizations 
for  promoting,  442  ;  origin  name,  437  ; 
size,  440. 

Cruickshank,  Amos,  179. 

Dairy  type  compared,  dual-purpose  and, 
307  ;  of  cattle,  243  ;  quality  of,  248. 

Darley,  Arabian,  1 5. 

Darnley  (222),  117. 

Dartmoor  ponies,  New  Forest  and,  148. 

Davy,  John  Tanner,  320. 

Delaine,  type,  maintenance,  362. 

Delaine,  word,  357. 

Delaine  Merino,  357  ;  adaptability  of, 
364 ;  as  a  feeder,  364  ;  breeding  qual- 
ity,   364 ;  cross-bred   or  grade,  364 ; 


INDEX 


557 


Dickinson,  358  ;  distribution  of,  364  ; 
mutton  value,  363 ;  National,  359, 
360  ;  organizations  promoting,  364  ; 
origin,  357  ;  types,  357;  Victor-Beall, 
360. 

Denmark  horse,  27. 

Devon  cattle,  319:  as  butcher's  beast, 
323  ;  as  grazers,  324  ;  as  milkers,  323  ; 
characteristics,  322  ;  distribution,  324; 
early  improvers,  319;  in  crossing  or 
grading,  324 ;  introduction  to  Amer- 
ica, 320;  native  home,  319;  organiza- 
tions to  promote,  325;  origin,  319; 
popularity  in  America,  325  ;  size,  323  ; 
two  types,  322. 

Devon  oxen,  324. 

Dexter-Kerry,  303. 

Dickinson  Delaine,  358  ;  characteristics, 

359- 

Dolly  Bloom  12770,  2S2. 

Dorset  Horn  sheep,  as  a  feeder,  411  ; 
characteristics,  410;  distribution,  413; 
fecundity  of,  412;  for  crossing  or 
grading,  412;  for  early  lambs,  411; 
for  mutton,  411;  for  wool,  413  ;  intro- 
duction to  America,  409 ;  native 
home,  408;  organizations  to  promote, 
414;  origin,  408;  popularity  of,  413; 
size,  410. 

Dorset  horns  protection  from  dogs,  413. 

Draft  horse,  action,  92  ;  breeds  French, 
in;  general  conformation,  92  ;  meas- 
urements, 97. 

Draft  type,  92. 

Drivers  of  light  harness  horses,  53. 

Dual-purpose  and  beef  type  compared, 
307  ;  dairy  type  compared,  307. 

Dual-purpose  cattle,  demand  for,  308  ; 
two  classes  of,  307. 

Dual-purpose  type  cattle,  307  ;  relation- 
ship size  to,  308. 

Duroc  breed  red  pigs,  506. 

Duroc-Jersey  pig,  as  a  feeder,  510  ;  as  a 
grazer,  511 ;  breeding  characteristics, 
512;  characteristics,  509;  cross-bred 
or  grade,  512;  distinction,  508;  dis- 
tribution, 512  ;  environment  for,  510  ; 
improvement,  508;  improvers,  508; 
maturing  qualities,  510;  meat,  512; 
organizations  to  promote,  513  ;  origin, 
507  ;  size,  510 ;  slaughter  tests,  511. 

Dutch  Belted  cattle,  296 ;  adaptability, 
298 ;  as  beef  producer,  298  ;  character- 
istics, 297  ;  cross-bred  or  grade,  299  ; 
dairy  importance,  298 ;  distribution, 
299 ;  introduction  to  America,  297  ; 
native  home,  296 ;  origin,  296 ;  pro- 
motion, 299  ;  records,  298. 


Eclipse,  16. 

Ellman,  John,  378. 

England,  horses   introduced  into,    1 5  ; 

improvement   Jersey  cattle   in,    251; 

prior  to  Elizabeth,  horse  in,  14. 
English-bred  horses,  three,  16  ;  Merinos, 

344- 

Eohippus,  3. 

Epihippus,  3. 

Equus,  4. 

Escurial  Merinos,  342. 

Escutcheon,  248. 

Essex  pigs,  as  feeders,  523 ;  character- 
istics, 522;  cross-bred  or  grade,  523; 
distribution,  524;  early  native  type, 
521  ;  establishment  Improved,  521  ; 
fecundity,  524;  improvement,  521; 
introduction  to  America,  522  ;  matur- 
ing qualities,  523  ;  meat,  523  ;  native 
home,  521  ;  organizations  to  promote, 
524;  size,  523;  special  field  for,  523. 

Exmoor  pony,  147. 

Fleshing  of  beef  cattle,  174. 
Flocks  of  Spain,  provincial,  341. 
France,   classes  breeding  stallions    in, 

76;  horse   racing  in,  72;   Percheron 
.   shows  in,  109. 
French  Canadian  cattle,  300 ;  breeding 

qualities,    302 ;    characteristics,    300 ; 

distribution,    302 ;    grazing  qualities, 

301  ;  hardy  character,  301 ;  maturing 

qualities,   302  ;  milk  production    by, 

301  ;  native  home,  300;  origin,  300; 

promotion,  302. 
French  Coach  horse,  72  ;  characteristics, 

77;  distribution  and  adaptation,  79; 

grade    or  half-bred,  80  ;    origin,   73 ; 

source  of  stock,  73,  74  ;  speed  records, 

78. 
French    Draft    Association,    National, 

IJ3- 

French  Draft  horse,  11 1 ;  breeds,  in. 

French  horse,  history,  early,  72  ;  Jockey 
Club,  72  ;  methods  to  promote  horse 
improvement  of,  75  ;  race  track,  78. 

French  Merinos  or  Rambouillets,  344. 

Fullerton,  William,  216. 

Galliers,  William,  202. 

Gallipoli,  99. 

Galloway  bulls  of  distinction,  233. 

Galloway  cattle,  225  ;  American  im- 
provers of,  233  ;  as  a  meat  producer, 
230 ;  as  milk  producer,  232 ;  associa- 
tions for  promoting,  228;  character- 
istics of,  228;  criticisms  of  the,  229; 
cross-bred,  230  ;  distribution  of,  233 ; 


558 


INDEX 


hardiness  of,  230;  hide  of,  230;  im- 
provement of,  225 ;  introduction  to 
America,  227  ;  native  home  of,  225  ; 
origin  of,  225;  prepotency  of  the,  231 ; 
prices  for,  233 ;  size  of  the,  232. 
General-purpose    type    cattle,  dual   or, 

Soy- 
German  Coach  horse,  81  ;  characteris- 
tics, 84;  distribution,  85;  history, 
81;  history  in  America,  83;  impor- 
tant, 85;  mares,  85;  organization  in 
America,  83;  studbook,  85;  type,  82. 

German  or  Silesian  Merinos,  343. 

Germany,  home  horse  breeding  in,  81 ; 
records  horse  breeding  in,  81  ;  super- 
vision horse  breeding  in,  82. 

Glancer  (335)  alias  Thompson's  Black 
Horse,  116. 

Goat.    See  Angora. 

Goat,  age  milch,  464 ;  Appenzell,  462  ; 
as  milk  producer,  460;  Association 
American  Milch,  463;  fecundity 
milch,  464;  importations  America 
milch,  465 ;  lactation  period,  463 ; 
Langensalzaer,  462;  Maltese,  460; 
Nubian,  462  ;  Saanen,  462  ;  Schwarz- 
thal,  463;  Toggenburg,  461. 

Goats,  milk-producing,  460 ;  price  milch, 
464. 

Godolphin,  99;  Barb,  15. 

Grant,  Sir  George  Macpherson,  215. 

Green  Mountain  Maid,  48. 

Guadalupe  Merinos,  342. 

Guernsey  bulls  of  distinction,  284. 

Guernsey  cattle,  276;  as  butter  pro- 
ducers, 280  ;  butter  records,  281,  282  ; 
characteristics,  278 ;  cross-bred  or 
grade,  283 ;  distribution,  284 ;  im- 
provement, 276;  in  beef  production, 
283;  introduction  to  America,  277; 
maturing  character,  283 ;  milk  records, 
279  ;  native  home,  276  ;  organizations 
to  promote,  285;    origin,   276;    size, 

279- 
Guernsey  milk,  cheese  value,  282. 
Guinea  breed  of  pigs,  505. 

Hackney  horse,  63;  characteristics,  68  ; 
color  of  the,  69 ;  development  of, 
64;  distribution  of,  71  ;  early  British 
home,  63 ;  evolution  of,  64 ;  half-bred 
or  grade,  70 ;  in  America,  66 ;  pony, 
149;  Horse  Society,  71;  soundness 
of  the,  69 ;  speed  and  endurance,  66 ; 
stock,  original,  63  ;  use  word,  63. 

Hal  family,  42. 

Hambletonian  10,  38,  39. 

Hambletonian  family,  37. 


Hampshire  Down  sheep,  associations  to 
promote,  407  ;  as  grazer,  406  ;  cross- 
bred or  grade,  406 ;  distribution,  406 ; 
early  improvement,  402 ;  fecundity, 
406 ;  for  early  lambs,  405 ;  for  wool, 
406 ;  introduction  to  America,  404 ; 
native  home,  402 ;  origin,  402  ;  prices 
for,  407  ;  size  of,  405. 

Hampshire  swine.    See  Thin  Rind. 

Harold  (3703),  128. 

Hereford  cattle,  201  ;  as  meat  pro- 
ducers, 209 ;  breeders,  early,  202  ; 
nineteenth  century,  203  ;  characteris- 
tics, 206;  distribution,  210;  intro- 
duction to  America,  205 ;  native 
home,  201 ;  of  note  in  America,  206; 
organizations  to  promote,  212;  origin, 
201  ;  prices  for,  211. 

Hereford  steers  in  American  fat  stock 
shows,  210. 

Herefords  of  importance,  foundation, 
204. 

Herod  (King  Herod),  16. 

Hewer,  John,  203. 

Hipparion,  4. 

Hitchin  Conqueror  (4458),  129. 

Holstein-Friesian,  as  producer  of  milk, 
269;  butter  records,  271;  milk  for 
cheese,  272. 

Holstein-Friesian  bulls,  great,  274. 

Holstein-Friesian  cattle  as  butter  pro- 
ducers, 269  ;  breeding  and  maturing 
power,  274;  characteristics,  266; 
distribution  of,  275;  families  of 
prominence,  274 ;  grade  or  cross- 
bred, 272  ;  introduction  to  America, 
264;  measurements,  268;  native 
home  of,  264 ;  official  testing  of, 
270;  organizations  for  promoting, 
274  ;  origin  name,  264  ;  records,  270 ; 
size  of,  268;  oxen,  273. 

Honest  Tom  (1062),  127. 

Honest  Tom  (1105),  128. 

Horse,  connection  of  modern  and  pre- 
historic, 6 ;  discovery  in  America 
prehistoric,  1  ;  distribution  prehis- 
toric, 2 ;  evolution  of,  2  ;  man  and 
prehistoric,  6 ;  racing  in  England,  14  ; 
reference  books  on,  167. 

Horses,  number  of  record-making,  52 ; 
prices  paid  for  standard  bred,  52. 

Hyracotherium,  3. 

Improved  Black  Top  Merino,  362. 
Indian  pony,  148. 
Infantado  Merinos,  342. 
Irish    Grazier  pig,  Poland-China  and, 
486. 


INDEX 


559 


Jack,  Catalonian,  157;  height  for,  159; 
Majorca,  158;  Maltese,  156;  Poitou, 

158- 

Jacks  and  jennets,  American  Breeders' 
Association,  160 ;  high  prices  for,  160. 

Jeffries,  Thomas,  204. 

Jennets,  American  Breeders'  Associa- 
tion of  Jacks  and,  160. 

Jersey  bulls  siring  tested  daughters, 
261. 

Jersey  cattle,  249;  as  beef  producers, 
259;  as  milk-fat  producers,  255;  as 
producers  of  milk,  258  ;  butter  rec- 
ords, notable,  256;  characteristics, 
252;  distribution,  262;  early  matur- 
ity, 262  ;  for  crossing  and  grading, 
259  ;  importation  to  America,  252  ;  in 
England,  improvement,  251  ;  native 
home,  249 ;  organizations  for  promot- 
ing, 263  ;  origin,  249  ;  prices  for,  261  ; 
reproductive  power,  262  ;  size,  255. 

Jersey  families  of  distinction,  260 ; 
island,  purity  cattle  on,  250 ;  milk 
for  cheese  making,  258  ;  type,  im- 
provement old,  250. 

Jersey  Red  pig.    See  Duroc-Jersey. 

John  Bull  (1169),  127. 

Justin  Morgan,  39. 

Keheilan,  9. 

Keheilet,  9,  10. 

Kent  sheep,  early  type,  450;  in 
America,  451  ;  modern  type,  451  ; 
native  home,  450. 

Kerry  cattle,  303  ;  as  beef  producer, 
305 ;  as  milk  producer,  304 ;  char- 
acteristics, 303  ;  distribution,  306 ; 
hardy  character,  305  ;  in  cross-breed- 
ing, 306 ;  maturing  characteristics, 
305 ;  native  home,  303 ;  organiza- 
tion, 306  ;  size,  304  ;  true,  303. 

Langensalzaer  goat,  462. 

Large  white  pig,  536. 

Large  Yorkshire  pig,  ancestry,  536 ;  as 
a  bacon  producer,  541 ;  as  feeders, 
542  ;  characteristics,  538  ;  cross-breds, 
540 ;  distribution,  543  ;  early  improv- 
ers, 538  ;  early-maturing,  540  ;  intro- 
duction to  America,  543 ;  popularity- 
in  United  States,  543;  prolificacy, 
542;  size,  539;  slaughter  test,  541. 

Leicester  sheep  as  grazer,  434  ;  Bake- 
well  type,  431 ;  Border  type,  435; 
breeding  qualities,  434 ;  characteris- 
tics Border,  436 ;  cross-bred  Cheviot- 
Border,  436 ;  cross-bred  or  grade,  432  ; 
distribution,  434;  for   mutton,    432; 


for  wool,  433 ;  improvement,  429 ; 
in  America,  Border,  436 ;  introduc- 
tion to  America,  430 ;  native  home, 
429 ;  origin,  429 ;  organizations  to 
promote,  435 ;  organization  to  pro- 
mote Border,  436 ;  popularity,  434 ; 
size,  432. 
Lincoln  sheep  as  grazers,  446 ;  breeders 
and  improvers  of,  448 ;  breeding 
quality,  447  ;  characteristics,  444 ; 
cross-bred  or  grade,  446 ;  distribution, 
448  ;  for  mutton,  445  ;  for  wool,  446 ; 
introduction  America,  443 ;  native 
home,  443  ;  organizations  to  promote, 
448 ;  origin,  443  ;  prices  for,  449  ;  size, 
445  ;  Lincolnshire  Lad  II  (1365),  127. 

McCombie,  William,  214. 

Maltese  goat,  460. 

Mambrino  Chief,  38  ;  family,  38. 

Man  and  prehistoric  horse,  6. 

Martin's  Boxer  strain,  141. 

Matchem,  16. 

Merino  sheep,  Aguirre,  342  ;  American, 
339 ;  as  wool  producer,  American,  349 ; 
Australian,  344  ;  Black  Top  Spanish, 
361  ;  breeding  qualities  American, 
351;  characteristics,  335,  348;  Class 
A,  333;  Class  B,  334;  Class  C,  334; 
conformation,  ^33'-'  cross-bred  or 
grade  American,  350;  Delaine,  357; 
distribution,  352  ;  drives  in  Spain,  an- 
nual, 340  ;  early  improvers,  346  ;  Eng- 
lish, 344  ;  Escurial,  342  ;  exportation 
from  Spain,  343  ;  fiber,  fineness,  350  ; 
fleece  to  body,  relationship  weight, 
349  ;  German  or  Silesian,  343  ;  Gua- 
dalupe, 342  ;  Improved  Black  Top, 
362 ;  Infantado,  342  ;  introduction  to 
United  States,  344  ;  mania  for,  346 ; 
maturing  qualities,  American,  352 ; 
mutton  qualities,  American,  350; 
native  home,  339 ;  Negrette,  342 ; 
organizations  to  promote,  352  ;  origin, 
343 ;  origin,  Delaine,  357  ;  Paular, 
341  ;  Rambouillets  or  French,  344  ; 
rams,  famous,  353  ;  Saxon,  343  ;  size, 
American,  349 ;  show-ring  victory, 
355 ;  Swedish,  343 ;  three  classes, 
333  *  tyPe>  333;  wool,  338;  prices 
for,  354 ;  subtypes  or  families,  355  ; 
use  of  three  classes,  335. 

Mesohippus,  3. 

Messenger,  37. 

Middle  White  or  Middle  Yorkshire 
swine,  544. 

Middle  Yorkshire  or  Middle  White 
swine,  544. 


56o 


INDEX 


Milch  goat.    See  Goat. 

Milk  veins,  247. 

Miss  Russell,  48. 

Mohair,  prices  of,  458. 

Morgan  family,  39. 

Mule,  161  ;  a  hybrid,  161  ;  as  carriage 
or  saddle  animal,  165;  best  type  of, 
164;  characteristics,  162;  color  of, 
164;  distribution  of,  161  ;  endurance 
of,  164;  in  history,  161  ;  Poitou,  165; 
raising  in  United  States,  16 1 ;  resist- 
ance to  disease,  165;  sex  of,  166; 
temperament  of,  164. 

Mules,  classification,  162:  levee,  163; 
lumber,  163;  mine,  163;  plantation, 
162;   prices  paid  for,  166;   railroad, 

163. 

Mustangs,  148. 

Mutton  conformation,  375. 

Mutton  type  of  sheep,  375. 

National  Delaine,  359,  360. 

Negrette  Merinos,  342. 

New  Forest  and  Dartmoor  ponies, 
148. 

Nivernais,  112. 

Norfolk  Red  Polled  cattle,  310;  amal- 
gamation Suffolk  and,  310. 

Nubian  goat,  462. 

Ohio  Importing  Company,  183. 

Orloff  horse,  characteristics  of,  54  ;  color 
of,  56 ;  cross  American  trotter  and, 
57;  importations  of,  56;  origin  of, 
54 ;  speed  of,  57  ;  trotter,  54 ;  types 
of,  56. 

Orohippus,  3. 

Oxen,  Devon,  324. 

Oxford  Down  sheep,  as  feeders,  398  ; 
characteristics,  396;  cross-bred  or 
grade,  398  ;  distribution,  400 ;  for 
wool,  399 ;  introduction  to  America, 
396 ;  native  home,  395 ;  organiza- 
tions to  promote,  401;  origin,  395; 
prices  paid  for,  401  ;  prolific  quality, 
400 ;  size  of,  398. 

Pace,  explanation  of,  49  ;  interchange- 
able, trot  and,  49. 

Pacer,  the,  49 ;  ancestry  of  the,  49. 

Pacers,  sires  of  trotters  and,  47. 

Pacing,  brood  mares,  list  of  trotting  or, 
48 ;  families,  money-winning  trotting 
or,  52  ;  horse,  conformation  of,  50  ; 
records,  51  ;  standard,  50. 

Packington  Blind  Horse,  127. 

Parahippus,  4. 

Paular  Merinos,  341. 


Percheron  horse,  98 ;  Associations, 
American,  104;  cross-bred  or  grade, 
107;  deterioration,  101;  distribution 
in  America,  107;  early  type,  100; 
history  in  United  States,  important, 
106;  improvement  in  France,  104; 
introduction  to  United  States,  106; 
origin,  98  ;  original  home,  98  ;  popu- 
larity of,  no;  prices  paid  for,  109; 
Society  of  France,  104 ;  type  about 
1877  of,  101  ;  type  of  to-day,  102. 

Percheron  shows  in  France,  109. 

Percheron  sires,  famous,  108. 

Percheron  studbooks,  105. 

Picardy,  113. 

Pig,  American  type,  467 ;  bacon  type, 
532>  533?  books  on>  554;  breeding 
bacon,  535  ;  Byfield,  484  ;  disposition 
fat  type,  471;  fleshing  quality,  470; 
general  appearance,  467;  hair,  471; 
Russian,  484 ;  weight  bacon,  535. 

Pilot,  42  ;  family,  42. 

Pliohippus,  4. 

Poitou,  165. 

Poland-China,  adoption  name,  486. 

Poland-China  pig,  adaptability  to  envi- 
ronment, 490  ;  and  Irish  Grazier  pig, 
486;  as  feeder,  491  ;  as  grazer,  491  ; 
boars  of  note,  488  ;  distribution,  494  ; 
early-maturing,  491 ;  evolution,  Berk- 
shire in,  486 ;  characteristics,  489 ; 
color,  490 ;  cross-bred  or  grade,  493 ; 
fecundity  and  prolificacy,  493 ;  im- 
provers, 487  ;  meat,  493 ;  native  home, 
484;  organizations  to  promote,  494; 
origin,  484  ;  prices  for,  495  ;  size,  490  ; 
sows  of  note,  488. 

Polled  Durham  cattle,  197;  distribution 
of,  200;  double  standard,  197;  herd- 
book,  American,  200 ;  origin  word, 
197;  popularity  of,  200;  prepotency, 
200  ;  promotion  of  interests  of,  200  ; 
requirements  for  registering,  199 ; 
single  standard,  197. 

Polo  pony,  146. 

Ponies,  146;  New  Forest  and  Dart- 
moor, 148. 

Pony,  Arab,  148  ;  Exmoor,  147  ;  height 
of,  146;  improvement  of  Shetland, 
152;  Indian,  148;  Polo,  146;  Welsh, 
146;  Welsh  mountain,  147. 

Portuguese  pigs,  505. 

Position  legs  horse,  proper,  61. 

Prehistoric  horse,  1  ;  and  man,  6 ;  exist- 
ence of,  1  ;  color  of,  5  ;  connection 
of  modern  and,  6. 

Premier  (2646),  128. 

Price,  John,  203. 


INDEX 


56l 


Prince  of  Wales  (673),  116. 
Prince  William  (3956),  128. 
Protohippus,  4. 
Protorohippus,  3. 
Przewalskii's  horse,  6. 

Quartly,  Francis,  319. 

Racing  in  England,  horse,  14. 

Rambouillet  sheep,  the,  366;  ancestry, 
366 ;  as  mutton  producer,  371;  as 
wool  producer,  372  ;  breeding  quali- 
ties, 372  ;  characteristics,  370  ;  cross- 
bred or  grade,  372  ;  distribution,  373  ; 
early  maturity,  ^J2>  ',  French  Merinos 
or,  344  ;  hardy  quality,  273  ;  improve- 
ment, 367 ;  introduction  to  United 
States,  368 ;  native  home,  366 ;  or- 
ganizations to  promote,  373 ;  prices 
for,  374  ;  size  of,  371. 

Red  or  sandy-colored  pigs  in  America, 

Red  pigs.    See  Duroc-Jersey. 

Red  Polled  cattle,  309 ;  amalgamation 
Suffolk  and  Norfolk,  310;  as  beef 
producers,  314;  as  butter  producers, 
316;  as  milk  producers,  315;  char- 
acteristics, 312;  in  crossing  or  grad- 
ing, 316;  deficiencies  of,  317;  distri- 
bution, 318;  groups  and  tribes,  311  ; 
introduction  to  America,  312;  milk 
records,  315;  native  home,  309;  or- 
ganizations promoting,  318;  origin, 
309;  weight,  314. 

Red  swine,  Berkshire  as  source,  506. 

Roadster  type,  33. 

Romney  Marsh.    See  Kent. 

Russian  pig,  484. 

Saanen  goat,  462. 

Saddle  animal,  mule  as  carriage  or, 
165. 

Saddle  horse,  American,  26;  Breeders' 
Association,  American,  32 ;  charac- 
teristics of,  28 ;  foundation  stock 
American,  27 ;  gaits  of,  28,  29 ;  his- 
tory, American,  26 ;  influence  Thor- 
oughbred on  American,  26. 

Saddle  horses,  famous,  28 ;  prices  paid 
for,  32. 

Sandy-colored  pigs  in  America,  red  or, 

5°5- 
Saxon  Merinos,  343. 
Schwarzthal  goat,  462. 
Scotch     Clydesdale     Horse     Society, 

122. 
Shadingfield  strain,  141. 
Shales,  The  Original,  65. 


Shetland  ponies,  of  interest,  154  ;  prices 
paid  for,  1 53. 

Shetland  pony,  150;  ancestry,  150; 
characteristics,  151  ;  improvement  of, 
152  ;  in  America,  use  of,  153  ;  native 
home,  1 50  ;  organization,  1 54  ;  type 
of,  150. 

Shire  horse,  characteristics,  129  ;  breed- 
ing in  England,  124;  critics  in  Amer- 
ica of,  130;  demand  for  the,  131; 
distribution  of  the,  131  ;  early  history, 
1 24 ;  importations  to  America  of, 
130;  importers  of,  132;  in  crossing, 
use  of,  131;  in  show  ring,  132; 
modern,  126;  old-fashioned,  125; 
organizations  to  promote  the,  131  ; 
origin  of,  124;  Robert  Bakewell,  im- 
prover of,  125;  Society,  131;  stal- 
lions, important,  127  ;  varieties  of  the, 
126. 

Shorthorn  cattle,  as  butcher's  beast, 
187;  as  milk  producer,  190;  at 
Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition 
dairy  test,  192;  breeders,  other 
important,  180;  characteristics,  184; 
color  of,  186;  dairy  records,  191  ; 
grading  or  crossing,  189;  herdbook, 
American,  195  ;  imported  to  America, 
first,  183;  improvers  of  the,  176; 
origin  of,  175  ;  original  home  of,  175  ; 
quality  of,  187  ;  steers  at  International 
Exposition,  188;  steers  in  show  ring, 
188. 

Shorthorns  in  America,  men  who  have 
promoted,  196;  of  interest,  indi- 
vidual foundation,  180;  prices  re- 
ceived for,  193. 

Shropshire  sheep  as  grazer,  392 ;  char- 
acteristics, 389 ;  cross-bred  or  grade, 
391  ;  distribution  of,  393 ;  early  im- 
provers, 388  ;  early-maturing,  392  ; 
fecundity  of,  391  ;  for  general  pur- 
pose, 393 ;  for  mutton,  390 ;  for 
wool,  392  ;  introduction  to  America, 
388 ;  native  home,  387 ;  organiza- 
tions to  promote,  393 ;  origin,  387  ; 
prices  for,  394 ;  size  of,    390  ;  vigor 

.of,  393- 
Silesian  Merinos,  German  or,  343. 
Small  white  swine,  strains  or  families, 

525- 
Small  Yorkshire  pig,  as  a  grazer,  528; 
characteristics,  526;  cross-bred  or 
grade,  528 ;  distribution,  529  ;  early- 
maturing,  527;  fecundity,  528;  in- 
troduction to  America,  525 ;  meat, 
528  ;  organizations  to  promote,  529  ; 
origin,  525;  popularity,  528;  size,  527. 


562 


INDEX 


Southdown  sheep,  378;  adaptability 
of,  384 ;  as  feeder,  383 ;  breeding 
qualities,  384;  characteristics,  381; 
criticism,  385  ;  cross-bred  or  grade, 
384 ;  distribution,  385 ;  early  im- 
provers of,  378 ;  for  wool,  384 ;  in- 
troduction to  America,  381  ;  mutton, 
383 ;  native  home,  378 ;  nobility 
breeding,  380 ;  organizations  pro- 
moting, 385;  original  stock,  378; 
prices  for,  386;  size  of,  382. 

Spain,  annual  Merino  drives  in,  340; 
exportation  Merinos  from,  343 ;  pro- 
vincial flocks  of,  341 ;  sheep  hus- 
bandry in,  339. 

Spanish  Merino,  Black  Top,  361. 

Spanish  red  pigs,  505. 

Spanish  sheep,  two  groups,  340. 

Standard-bred  horses,  prices  paid  for,  52. 

Standard-bred  trotter,  what  is  a,  44. 

Standard  Delaine,  360. 

Standard  pacing,  50. 

Studbook,  Thoroughbred,  24. 

Suffolk  and  Norfolk  Red  Polled  Cattle, 
amalgamation,  310. 

Suffolk  Down  sheep,  as  feeder,  423; 
characteristics,  422 ;  cross-bred  or 
grade,  423  ;  distribution,  423 ;  fecun- 
dity, 423  ;  for  mutton,  423  ;  for  wool, 
423;  introduction  to  America,  421; 
native  home,  421  ;  organizations  to 
promote,  424;  size,  422;  origin,  421. 

Suffolk  horse,  characteristics,  142 ; 
cross-bred,  145;  distribution,  145; 
draft  horse,  144;  early  career,  140; 
fecundity  and  longevity  of,  145  ;  for- 
eign blood  to  improve,  140;  founda- 
tion, 140;  history  modern,  141;  in 
America,  history,  142;  native  home 
of,  140;  studbook,  145. 

Suffolk  pig,  characteristics,  American, 
530;  distribution,  American,  531; 
English,  530;  in  breed  comparison, 
531  ;  origin,  American,  530. 

Suffolk  Red  Polled  cattle,  309. 

Sussex  cattle,  234 ;  beef  properties, 
235;  characteristics,  234;  cross-bred 
and  grade,  236 ;  distribution,  236 ; 
early-maturing  and  grazing  value,  236 ; 
introduction  to  America,  234 ;  milk- 
giving  qualities,  235;  native  home, 
234;  origin,  234;  promotion  of,  237; 
size,  235. 

Swedish  Merinos,  343. 

Swine,  of  Miami  Valley,  484 ;  type  val- 
ued in  United  States,  467. 

Swiss  cattle,  races,  326.  See  Brown 
Swiss. 


Tamworth  pig,  ancestry,  545  ;  as  bacon 
547 ;  as  a  feeder,  548 ;  as  a  grazer, 
550 ;  characteristics,  546  ;  criticisms 
550;  cross-bred  or  grade,  549;  dis 
tribution,  550;  early  type,  545  ;  fe 
cundity,  549  ;  improvement,  545  ;  in 
troduction  America,  546 ;  maturing 
quality,  548;  native  home,  545;  or- 
ganizations   to   promote,    550;    size, 

547-  . 

Thin  Rind  pig,  as  a  grazer,  553;  char- 
acteristics, 552  ;  distribution,  553 ; 
fecundity,  553;  grade  or  cross-bred, 
553  ;  meat,  553  ;  organizations  to  pro- 
mote, 553;  origin  of,  551  ;  size,  552. 

Thoroughbred  horse,  14;  color  of,  21  ; 
conformation  of,  20  ;  distribution,  21  ; 
height,  21  ;  influence  on  American 
saddle  horse  of,  26;  origin  of,  17; 
speed  of,  22,  23;  studbook,  24;  tem- 
perament, 21  ;  weight,  21. 

Thoroughbred  sires,  famous,  24,  25. 

Thoroughbreds,  importations  to 
America  of,  19;  names  famous,  17; 
prices  of,  21  ;  prominent  American, 
19;  prominent  British,  18. 

Toggenburg  goat,  461. 

Tom  Hal,  42. 

Tomkins  family,  202. 

Trot,  explanation  of,  49. 

Trot  and  pace  interchangeable,  49. 

Trotter,  American,  36;  cross  of  Orloff 
and  American,  57;  definition  standard- 
bred,  44;  in  America,  early  use,  36; 
speed  of  the,  46 ;  type  of  American, 

43- 

Trotters  and  pacers,  sires  of,  47. 

Trotting,  blood  in  America,  source,  36. 

Trotting  families  of  note,  37. 

Trotting  horse,  history  of  English,  36. 

Trotting  or  pacing  brood  mares,  list,  48. 

Trotting  or  pacing  families,  money-win- 
ning, 52. 

Trotting  records,  fast,  47. 

Trotting  register,  44. 

Tunis  Sheep,  Breeders'  Association, 
428 ;  characteristics,  426 ;  cross-bred 
or  grade,  427 ;  distribution,  428 ; 
fecundity  of,  428 ;  for  early  lambs, 
427  ;  for  mutton,  427  ;  for  wool,  428  ; 
introduction  to  America,  425  ;  native 
home,  425  ;  origin,  425  ;  size,  427. 

Turk,  Byerly,  15. 

Type  of  cattle,  beef,  169;  dairy,  243. 

Type,  quality  of  dairy,  248. 

Udder,  246. 

United  States,  mule  raising  in,  161. 


INDEX 


Veins,  milk,  247. 

Victor-Beall  Delaine,  360. 

Victoria  pig,  adaptability,  520 ;  argu- 
ment for,  520;  as  a  feeder,  520; 
association  for  promoting,  520 ; 
breeding  qualities,  520;  character- 
istics, 519;  cross-bred  or  grade,  520; 
Curtis,  518;  Davis,  518;  distribution, 
520;  origin,  518;  pork,  520;  size, 
5J9- 

Watson,  Hugh,  214. 
Webb,  Jonas,  379. 
Welsh  mountain  pony,  147. 
Welsh  pony,  146. 


563 

West  Highland  cattle,  238;  as  beef 
producers,  240;  breeders'  organiza- 
tion, 242;  breeding  qualities,  241; 
characteristics,  238;  cross-bred  or 
grade,  241  ;  distribution,  242;  hardi- 
ness of,  240 ;  introduction  to  America, 
238;  milking  qualities,  241;  native 
home,  238;  origin,  238;  size,  240. 

William  the  Conqueror  (2343),  128. 

Wright  strain,  141. 

Yeksa  Sunbeam,  281. 
Yorkshire  Coach  horse,  91. 
Yorkshire    pig,    ancestry    Large,    536; 
Small,  525. 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  School  of  Veterinary  Medicines 
Tufts  University 
200  Westboro  Road 
North  Grafton,  MA  01536 


